Acivic organisation, the Credibility Group, has demanded that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, tenders a national apology for de-marketing Nigeria as a country.
The group in a statement by its President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, said that the minister displayed myopic, narrow mindedness and de-marketed Nigeria by accusing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, of committing treason by challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
Uwazurike, who further said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were overheating the Nigerian polity, reminded Lai Mohammed that President Buhari challenged the outcome of 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections in the same election tribunals but no one accused him of treason or threatened to arrest him and his supporters.
Uwazurike’s statement noted that “The recent statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed accusing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party of treason is nothing but quixotic display of a narrow minded and forgetful person.
“Indeed, only a person suffering from myopia will descend to the level of equating going to court to challenge election results with treason. Myopia because the President of Nigeria, Muhamadu Buhari challenged the outcome of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 in the election tribunals the same way Peter Obi and Atiku are doing now. Nobody accused Buhari of treason. Nobody threatened to arrest him and his followers, including you.”
According to him, “Alhaji Lai Mohammed should retrace his steps and apologise to the nation for de-marketing Nigeria.
“Again, the notorious gang of four, also known as the media campaign team, has gone overboard in destroying the freedom of the media and inter-ethnic harmony. Bayo Onanuga coughs and the NBC swings into action.
“The other day, Arise TV and now Channels TV are all at the whims and caprices of the gang of four. Today, all non-Yoruba and Hausa people are seen as Igbo in Lagos and must be disenfranchised.
“The security arrangements are not for the Igbo in Lagos. Any statement in protest must be met with a sledge hammer.
“Enough of the derailing of the harmony of the society and the freedom of the press. For record purposes, Bayo Onanuga, Dele Alake and Femi Fani Kayode are non-indigenous residents while Festus Keyamo and I are regarded by Bayo Onanuga and company as Igbo people.
“Let common sense come back to Nigeria. Bayo Onanuga and company rejoiced over Kemi of UK and Kemi of the Republic of Island for winning election in Europe and have declared hostility towards non indigenous people. The security agencies have seen no evil and hear no evil.”
