Following the February 25 presidential election, Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi spoke out against the online attacks on the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Social media reportedly attacked Pastor Adeboye on May 8, following reports claiming that he declared his support for President-elect Bola Tinubu. However, Obi has distanced himself and his supporters from the attacks, stating that some people were masquerading as Obidients to carry out the assaults on the clergyman.
In a series of tweets, Obi expressed that while differences of opinion are expected, we should not tolerate calculated efforts to create ethnic or religious chasm, all in the name of politics. As a person, he eschews name-calling, insults, and abuses, including most of his supporters. However, he pointed out that the political opposition deploys such methods to gain undue advantage and create confusion and bad blood.
In a related development, the Head of the Obi-Datti media office, Diran Onifade, released a statement on May 10, distancing Obi and members of the Obidients movement from the social media attacks on the pastor. Onifade stressed that supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, similar to their Principal, hold Pastor Adeboye in high esteem, exhibiting deep respect for him and every responsible and respectable Nigerian. Therefore, they are not involved in any social media hounding of the revered man of God, particularly for a statement he may not have made.
Furthermore, he urged fellow Nigerians to ignore the antics of election riggers who believe that demarketing Peter Obi is their sure means of keeping a stolen mandate. He also emphasized that issuing personal insults is not Peter Obi’s character. Therefore, he does not encourage his followers to engage in the same.
CC: Vanguard
