Obi Slams Federal Government For Charging Peaceful Citizens With Treason

Obi Slams Federal Government For Charging Peaceful Citizens With Treason

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has strongly criticized the federal government for pressing treason charges against peaceful #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Obi expressed disappointment at the government’s handling of the protest, noting that citizens had provided a one-month notice prior to their demonstration.

During an interview with News Central on Monday, the former governor of Anambra State shared his views on the treason allegations. He emphasized that during his time in office, he never resorted to using the police to arrest protesters, stating that such actions are counterproductive in a democratic society.

“I believe it was wrong for the federal government to avoid dialogue with peaceful protesters and instead use law enforcement to suppress them,” Obi said.

He further stated, “I have always maintained that everyone has the right to protest. In fact, the protesters had informed the government well in advance. If it were me, I would have sat down and engaged them in discussions. When I was governor, people protested, went on strike, shut down schools and hospitals for months, but I always kept communication open.”

Obi continued, “As a politician and leader, I never ordered the police to arrest anyone. That’s not how democracy works. People have the right to express dissent. In fact, if everyone is happy with me, I would question that situation. It’s natural to have critics, and it’s my responsibility to communicate and engage with them.”

He emphasized the importance of leadership through dialogue: “A leader must be a communicator. You need to listen to and engage with the people, whether they are agitators or protesters. Only through conversation can we find solutions.”