AfriPulse
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The media office of Peter Obi has dismissed allegations that he targeted Northerners during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, describing the claims as politically motivated falsehoods aimed at creating ethnic and regional divisions.
In a statement issued on May 24, spokesperson Ibrahim Umar said allegations that Obi “repatriated” Northerners or singled out Northern traders and beggars during his administration were untrue and intended to damage his political image.
The media office stated that Obi’s administration operated a social welfare programme designed to assist vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from different parts of the country who were living under difficult conditions in cities such as Awka and Onitsha.
According to the statement, the initiative was a humanitarian intervention and was never directed at any ethnic or regional group.
The office further maintained that Obi sustained cordial relations with Northern and Muslim communities throughout his eight-year administration in the state. It argued that during periods of ethno-religious tension across Nigeria, his government took measures to protect Northern residents, particularly those in the Onitsha Hausa Quarter, popularly known as Ama Awusa, from retaliatory attacks.
The statement also said the administration supported Muslim residents through sponsorship for pilgrimages to Mecca and maintained policies of equal treatment regardless of religious affiliation.
It added that Northern traders and livestock merchants operating in communities such as Amansea carried out their activities in a secure environment without government-backed harassment.
According to the media office, members of Hausa and Fulani communities in Onitsha and Awka could attest to the administration’s relationship with Northern residents.
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The statement linked the recurring allegations to efforts aimed at weakening Obi’s relationship with Northern Nigerians and undermining his economic vision for the region.
It noted that Obi has consistently advocated leveraging Northern Nigeria’s agricultural potential as part of a broader strategy to transition the country from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one.
The media office concluded that repeated allegations would not overshadow Obi’s long-term agenda for national unity and development.
Source: Sundiatapost.com | Read the Full Story…
