The National Director of Publicity for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has cautioned that Peter Obi’s Labour Party followers may try to de-market him ahead of the 2023 elections.
Baba-Ahmed warned that in the Southeast, where Obi is “strongest,” supporters of the candidate could scuttle elections.
The amount of violence in the Southeast should be reduced, he encouraged Obi’s followers, as it might not be in their candidate’s favor during the presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed issued the warning in response to a tweet that read: “If Obi gets involved in negotiating IPOB then people will still say he is their sponsor.
“We can’t take power from PDAPC by being passive or singing cumbaya, we need to be aggressive & I personally think we’ve not been as aggressive as we ought to considering what happened.”
Baba-Ahmed tweeted: “Supporters of Obi should help him lower level of violence in East. They are human beings doing this. They are de-marketing him, creating the impression that he has serious local opposition. They could frustrate election where he is strongest.
“Now I am convinced YOU did not read the material. There were many reasons mentioned behind the violence in the SE. Obi will be the biggest beneficiary behind a more peaceful election.
“Parrallels btw SE & N do not make the problems easier. Are supporters waiting for Obi to have peace?
“A lot of it. Insisting on parralles with 2015 and 2019 will hurt Obi more than others. His supporters are standing by tradition to see him President, waving the magic wand.
“I was hard on everyone but cannot comment on Obi’s challenges. There are some who see opposition in everything said.”
