A South West socio-cultural group, Yoruba For National Renaissance (YNR) has expressed regret over a report published by a leading online newspaper in Nigeria, Premium Times in which a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi was fingered in a Panama Paper as one of Nigerian leaders who allegedly laundered money overseas using the offshore shell.
Peter Obi
The group says the report is not only misleading but a sponsored campaign to smear the character of Obi whom it says not only maintained a high integrity standard in his years of public service but has remained an epitome of uprightness and diligence in management of public funds.
In a release on Tuesday signed by YNR Director of Publicity, Lawal Olabode, the group insists that the publication betrays public trust which journalism stands for and smacks of unprofessionalism, adding that it is a handiwork of elements who are jittery of the enviable political profile of the former governor which he solely gained through dedication, honesty, and integrity in service of his people and the country at large.
“This concocted falsehood against the person of Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP in 2019 election did not come to us as a surprise. It highlights the desperation of people who have refused to provide leadership to Nigerians to clutch unto anything, including straw to save their face.
“It is sad however that an otherwise respected newspaper, Premium Times has made itself a willing tool to tarnish the image of a man who has held his head high as one of those who redefined pragmatic management of public resources while in office.
“One wonders if the government of Anambra State has at any point in time raised concern about the mismanagement of its resources under the leadership of Peter Obi as governor.
“Panama Paper which Premium Times cited in the ill-advised report replicates an open advert of neo-colonialism where we rely on falsehood manufactured overseas to smear the character of those who have given their all in service of their fatherland.
“It is equally important to state that the former governor will not stop to speak up against the leadership locust our country is deeply mired into. Our people are living in tension and fear on the ground of failure of leadership. Poverty, hunger and disease bites harder.
“The economy is in shamble. The government of the day borrows with impunity and keeps mortgaging the future of unborn Nigerians. These are germane issues Mr. Obi has continued and will continue to speak against.
“What they have refused to achieve with evidence, they have resorted to whipping up sentiments just to pitch Nigerians against a brilliant public servant who personifies prudence. We dare ask, why has the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria not unearthed any trace of financial underhand dealings against Obi nearly a decade since he left office?
“Like a pack of cards, this mendacious falsehood will not only collapse but the sponsors will be put to shame. Our people are wiser and know who the guzzlers of our nation’s treasures are” the group said.
It, therefore, called on well-meaning Nigerians to remained focused for a new Nigeria that will usher in progress, unity and prosperity and end the era of depravity they have been subjected under the current leadership.
