The sordid details of Peter Obi’s alleged infamous role in the 2006 ethnic attacks that led to the killings of several northerners in Onitsha, Anambra State, where the Labour Party presidential candidate served as Governor at different spells between 2006 and 2014, and other alleged discriminatory policies against non-Igbos have been brought to light by a northerner who questioned the moral basis of his appeal for votes from the region.
The allegations, reportedly made by Malam Umar Dan Kano, were published on Twitter by Ibrahim Shehu who tweets from the handle @magmal11.
According to the thread titled “PETER OBI, THE NORTH AWAITS YOUR AUGUST VISIT”, Peter Obi emerged as Governor barely a month after the February killings of northerners and destruction of their businesses in Onitsha.
He claimed that then Governor Obi, upon visiting the town, was approached by the northern community for sympathy and protection but he cruelly dismissed their appeal, asking them “to go and tell your people to also stop killing our people in the north.”
He said: “I could remember that Peter Obi came to power on the 17th March 2006 while the famous Onitsha crisis, which led to the killings of Northerners, occurred on the 21st and 22nd of February 2006. That was almost a month gap.”
“Our first meeting with Obi also coincided with his first visit to the town; all arrangements were done to receive the first citizen of the state and also to explain our predicament to him at that moment.”
“As refugees in Army Barrack Onitsha, we took him from the barrack round to the affected areas of the crisis such as Bida Road central to see some houses burnt within the area, and then to Oba of Yoruba house and palace that was razed down along sokoto and Ifejika streets,then down to bridge head market by the express, where all Northern markets were burnt down.”
“There alone, more than 100 lives were lost and properties worth billions destroyed. The following businesses were destroyed and burnt completely: Goat Market (Northerners); Kola market (which comprised of North & Western interest); Beans and Rice Market (Northerners); Onions Market (Northerners); Vegetables oils (Northerners); Arewa parks which comprises of Maiduguri, Bauchi, Gombe, Sokoto ,Yola, Kano, Mubi and many Northern states; Osogbo park (Yorubas).”
“But to our greatest surprise, the first thing that came out of PObi’s mouth was “you people should tell your people to also stop killing our people in the North” It was like a bomb! Everyone was shocked ?”
“We couldn’t believe a whole Chief Executive Officer of a state who should be for everybody, a “Governor so to say could utter such a disgusting and an intolerant statement in the public! We all were disappointed and dispersed without even murmuring a word. Peter Obi sent a chill down our spines!”
“The rest was history; Peter Obi didn’t even feel any pity for the lives lost nor the properties destroyed, not to talk of giving out any form of relief materials or compensation of any sort to the biggest community of settlers in the state.”
He also recounted Peter Obi’s controversial residential policies as Governor, policies believed to be targeted at non-indigenes of the state, particularly northerners who were evicted in droves.
“Secondly, at a point in his Administration, Peter Obi decided to eject and takeover those markets mentioned earlier from the Northerners. These are markets which the Northerners had been in possession since 1974 when they were relocated from Ochanja market by the then military government.”
“The Hausa community, thereby, rejected his moves to take them over without any provision or replacement for their original place of business. To our surprise, Gov P. Obi ordered the deployment of Military men, who invaded the market and took no prisoners. They shot and killed 7 (Seven) innocent market men among the protesters.”
“It’s not easy to suddenly lose our places of income and source of living without any replacement. So, we petitioned the matter to the office of the Sultan of Sokoto who in response sent 2 Emirs, that of Suleja & the Etsu of Nupe, to appease him, but even all that brought no fruitful solution. The governor stood his ground and refused to provide an alternative land for the Markets.”
“Eventually, his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, had to visit the governor to beg on our behalf solely for him to provide another place for the continuation of our businesses, but ‘the almighty’ Peter Obi refused to change position all because we are NORTHERNERS not IGBOS.”
“Because we are Northerners, Obi felt we didn’t deserve a land for our businesses in Anambra State. In fact, in one of our meeting with him he openly said to us and I quote,”you people are foreigners here, therefore you have no right to our land”- a clear case of an intolerant leader.”
“Obi’s discrimination & hatred to us clearly defined him as a bigot to the core. Peter Obi forgot that a day like today will come when he will need northerners for his political ambition, he forgot that there are over a Million Igbos of Anambra state origin who are scattered all over the North living comfortably with their families & businesses.”
“So, for Obi’s insensitivity and high-handedness, all the traders relocated to Asaba with their families and businesses. NOW TELL ME, How would Peter Obi treat Northerners if he is elected the President of Nigeria?”
Malam Umar Dan Kano also cited several instances of unfair treatment and blatant discrimination aimed at the northern residents of the state, including forceful and illegal evictions, denial of state opportunities, and other exclusionary practices.
He concluded that “in view of all the above Peter Obi’s divisive kind of leadership and his unprovoked notorious actions against the North and Northerners, I make bold to say that he is not worthy of a single VOTE from any patriotic Northerner (‘Yan Arewa) and Westerners (Yorubas). Obi is an extremely ethnic bigot and a personality very dangerous to be trusted with the highest office of the land.”
PETER OBI, THE NORTH AWAITS YOUR AUGUST VISIT
I could remember that Peter Obi came to power on the 17th March 2006 while the famous Onitsha crisis, which led to the killings of Northerners, occurred on the 21st and 22nd of February 2006. That was almost a month gap. @PeterObi
— Ibrahim, SHEHU ?agara (MHR) (@magmal11) August 14, 2022