Labour Party’s candidate, Peter Obi, has finally condemned the weekend attack on Senator Ifeanyi Uba by the terrorist group IPOB several hours after the incident, and after his silence strengthened suspicion of a political alliance between the former Anambra governor and the violent secessionist campaigners.
Members of IPOB had on Sunday made an attempt on the life of Senator Ubah with an attack on his convoy, killing 7 and injuring several others. Ubah owed his survival and escape to the bullet-proof jeep he was riding in, eyewitness and police reports affirm.
The report of the incident prompted widespread concern about the state of affairs in the eastern region, and prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, condemned the attack and IPOB’s terror campaign.
Obi, however, remained mum as has become typical, even as avowed IPOB media propagandists now devote the power of their network to promoting the Labour Party’s candidate.
His silence drew criticism, as Nigerians queried his refusal directly criticize IPOB and its leaders despite the destruction they continue to wreak in the eastern region where he hails from. In fact, he styles himself as the embodiment of the Igbo aspiration for the presidency, alleging baselessly in a recent viral clip that opponents of his ambition are against the resurgence of his region – a goal he ostensibly pursues.
Bowing to pressure, he finally issued a statement in which he described the attack as ‘condemnable and unacceptable’ and urged the FG to apprehend the culprits. The terse statement however did little to quell the suspicion of ties with the secessionist group, as Obi shied away from naming IPOB, opting instead for a vague descriptor.