Elder statesman and former federal minister of information Chief Edwin Clark has requested that President Muhammadu Buhari summon Lai Mohammed to account for spreading false information about Peter Obi, a candidate for the Labour Party.
In response to Lai Mohamed’s recent media appearance in the US during which he accused Obi of treason, Clark stated that the minister had not based his claims on any reliable intelligence report from the state agencies but rather on false information and propaganda.
He continued by saying that the minister chose to drag the name of Obi, who had been completely silent on the subject, rather than mentioning the names of those who had been raising the issue of an interim government for simple political gain.
In a statement released yesterday, the former minister added that the minister’s statements over the previous eight years had a tendency to stoke conflict rather than foster a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among Nigerians.
Along with criticizing the recent five million naira fine levied against Channels Television without giving the station a fair hearing, the leader of the Niger Delta also mocked efforts made under the minister’s watch to intimidate and gag the press.
Reacting to Mohammed’s recent media outing in the United States, Clark said “So, for me to see what Lai Mohammed is doing with the office today is disappointing. His recent sojourn to the United States of America (USA), on the issue of Interim National Government (ING), to damage the reputation of Mr. Peter Obi’s rising profile, to me, is an effort in futility, because Lai Mohammed did not base his accusations on any report or information given by any state agency, but on mere propaganda targeted at destroying the reputation of an innocent citizen.
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“If I may continue further, why will the Minister of Information take more than usual interest in not only scandalizing and lying against Peter Obi but using his privileged position to circulate same to the country and entire world. If we were to talk further about those who have held strong positions against the current political situation in the country; why has the Minister avoided to take notes of the views of other persons such as our respected elder statesman and colleague Chief Afe Babalola who stated thus as supported by Premium Times online news of April 18th 2022.
“It is criminal, unpatriotic and wicked for anyone to draw the name of Mr. Peter Obi who fully participated in the 2023 Presidential Election and who has gone to court to express his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the presidential election and his popularity which has spread to all part of the country as a wildfire has no doubt caused a great embarrassment to the Federal Government.
“What is being alleged as a discovery of a plot to overthrown the Federal Government by DSS is malicious and untrue.
“Finally, one cannot help but note that Lai Mohammed’s actions are targeted against perceived political opponents and enemies. I wish to strongly advice Mr. President to call his spokesmen to order. The nation is already too tensed; those whose responsibility it is to douse the tension should not be the ones stoking the embers of fire that will flame up the country.”
