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The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, has dismissed claims that security agencies are planning to come up with corruption charges against former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking to Punch, Tanko asserted that the former Anambra governor has no criminal record and has never been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Department of State Services (DSS) for corruption.
He made the clarification against the backdrop of reports suggesting that Obi and other opposition heavyweights in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be targeted for arrest amid the alleged persecution and travails of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Other prominent figures mentioned to be on the watchlist included former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Tanko, however, maintained that Obi and his supporters would not be intimidated.
He said, “Long ago, it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Peter Obi would be as clean as a whistle and that has already been established by Nigerians and even the security apparatus.
“So, we have been preparing ourselves for the extra measures that this government will take, because we know that this government will stop at nothing to manipulate, intimidate, coerce and harass any of their opposition to establish their grip on Nigeria. This we have already established.
“So, we are ready, and we are waiting because if they decide to go that route, they will have to answer to the Nigerian people. That’s the best I can say.
“But we know that they will try to intimidate anything or anyone they can. That’s what they will do. So, we are ready. We’ll be waiting.”
When asked if he believed the alleged persecution and corruption charges against opposition figures were linked to the 2027 elections, Tanko said it was obvious.
“Yes, of course. It’s about the 2027 elections and nothing more. So, as I said earlier, we are prepared to wait for them to take whatever particular decision that they want to take,” he stated.
On whether Obi’s camp suspected a broader plot to manipulate the 2027 polls in favour of the ruling party, Tanko alleged that the process had already begun.
“Already the rigging has started. What are you talking about? From the laws that they’ve approved, they are trying to legitimise their criminality. That’s what they are trying to do.
“How do you legitimise? You coerce, intimidate and take over the National Assembly by manipulating people and intimidating them.
“So, all these are geared towards legitimising this so-called rigging that has already started. It is now left for the populace to say no to this rigging machine that is already meted out to us as a people.
“Dominating the nation and working against the interest of the people would not be acceptable to true democrats in Nigeria,” he noted.
