We must individually analyze these candidates by examining their past records, their current state of mind, their capacity and capability
Debo Adedayo, Nigerian comedian and skit maker popularly called Mr Macaroni, has said threats have been made against him and his family by supporters of a certain presidential candidate because they believe he is against their choice.
The comedian disclosed this on Sunday via his official Twitter handle, stating that he has experienced cyberbullying online. He, however, did not disclose the name of the presidential candidate, but many assumed to be Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
According to him, Nigerians must elect the most suitable candidates to occupy various leadership positions in the country.
He noted that Nigerians must also individually analyse the available candidates by “examining their past records, their current state of mind, their capacity and capability vis-à-vis the respective positions they wish to occupy”.
He wrote, “I went to visit my mother 2 weeks ago. I was giving out money to some people in the neighborhood as I always do anytime I go home. A woman walked up to me and asked why I am against a particular candidate.. I said I am not against anyone. All I want is for a better country.
“And that can only happen when we vote in good leaders. The next thing she said is that I should better watch myself because they know where my people live. I asked if that was a threat and she continued saying all sorts. My sister and manager were with me and I have a video!
“I can go on and on about different threats that I have received from some party members or supporters of a presidential candidate because they somehow believe that I am against their choice. Cyber bullying via different online attacks and tribal propaganda.
“There is so much dishonesty going on and it gets worse by the day. But my messaging will never change! Nigerians have suffered enough!!! Look around you and look at the serious challenges we are facing as a people.
“There’s no Messiah anywhere! However, to stand a chance for a better Nation come 2023, we must elect the most suitable options to occupy positions of leadership in the country. We must individually analyze these candidates by examining their past records, their current state of mind, their capacity and capability; Vis-à-vis the respective positions they wish to occupy.
“Do your research and vote for the right candidates. I rest my case. For now!”
Similarly, Femi Kuti, musician and son of the late pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, raised the alarm that some fans of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi threatened to burn down New Afrika Shrine.
The New Afrika Shrine hots Felabration, a music festival organised annually in honour of Fela.
In a video posted via his Twitter handle on Saturday, Femi Kuti said some supporters of Obi threatened to burn down Afrika Shrine for saying he was not an ‘Obidient’. ‘Obidient’ was coined by supporters of Obi or members of the ‘Obidient Movement’ as the name by which they identify themselves.
Femi Kuti said his family was also threatened.
He said, “I woke up today to insults, abusing me, my family, and my children. They threatened me saying they would burn the shrine because they said I said Peter Obi supporters are Zombies.
“First, what I said was that I was too angry, sad, and depressed to be obedient. How can anybody come up with such a term? I can’t be obedient. EndSARS, killings. My grandmother was killed and my father’s house burned.
“The oppression of my family. Obedient is sitting when you’re told to sit. I said Obi was friends with Atiku, becoming his vice president. If they had won, they’d be pals by now. I didn’t call Peter Obi supporters Zombies.”
“I don’t like the [campaign coinage] Obi-dient. I don’t support Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Bola Tinubu. I’ve never supported any political party,” he added.
“My family is already heartbroken. If Obi wins and things change, we will all jubilate. But who are you to tell me not to have my doubts? Don’t come threatening me saying you’d burn the shrine. Stop that rubbish.”
Also recently, a popular columnist, Sam Omatseye, alleged that supporters of Obi were issuing death threats against him over one of his articles.
He said this in a tweet on Tuesday, urging Obi to caution his supporters.
He added that the LP presidential candidate would be held responsible if anything happened to him.
He said, "Mr. Peter Obi, call you supporters to order. They are calling and issuing death threats. If anything happens to me, you will be held responsible!!!!"
Omatseye in his opinion piece, titled ‘Obi-tuary', published recently on The Nation, said Obi had no landmark that could be attributed to him in Anambra as a former governor.
He described Obi as a shelter for miscreants.
The opinion read in part; “Obi has turned out to be an excuse for even closet Biafrans to betray open emotions about Biafra without being accused of it.
“This includes intellectuals who did not show mercy to him while he reigned in Anambra as a pharisaic chief executive. It is like wearing a colour beneath another colour. Obi has become a shelter for both miscreants and activists of the crowd.
“He (Obi) is therefore using religion as a bait. He is now on a weekly pilgrimage to churches. Jonathan did the same. The pastors, ever opportunistic, see him as a darling.
“He is visiting a sectional hue of pews. This is the man who divided the church in Anambra State in his time between Catholics and the others.”
The article also reads: "I can excuse those who think that being stingy is good for the economy because they are looking at how they run their family and personal finances. But no economy works in history by saving money. It stifles the economy. He has not been able to tell us how he will do it, and whether he has done it. We have no landmark in Anambra State to attribute to him, no enduring legacy.
"But this essayist can understand why Obi knows that the crowd that adores him will not question him. He is therefore using religion as a bait. He is now on a weekly pilgrimage to churches. Jonathan did the same. The pastors, ever opportunistic, see him as a darling. He is visiting a sectional hue of pews. This is the man who divided the church in Anambra State in his time between Catholics and the others. He is trying to push himself as the Christian candidate of the south while his messengers foul the air with sanctimonious growl about Muslim-Muslim ticket. I am sure Kanu will chuckle in his cocoon, especially when he contemplates what he alleges as his sinful romps in hotels.
"While Obi hops from church to church and beclouds the hypocrisy among political pastors, the nation watches as his sectional army taunts and harangues others. But Obi will do nothing to restrain his rabble because he knows they are doing a good job in keeping the faithful within their own bubble where they reinforce their own self-delusions. That will last until their last call at the polls. This is not the time to properly interrogate in details the false intimations of Obi’s agenda and hypocrisies. But it is safe to say one thing. Before he peters out and hurtles towards an electoral Obi-tuary, the country knows the content of the crowd and its origin. They are a caterwauling group trying to seduce, without much success, those outside its ethno-religious tent."
Obi earlier had to caution his supporters and loyalists against being toxic, urging them to tolerate other people's views and opinions.
The former Anambra Governor said this on his Twitter page in July following his supporters’ criticism of Poju Oyemade, senior pastor of Covenant Christian Centre and others perceived as attacking Obi on social media.
For instance, Oyemade had advised youths not to waste their enthusiasm on a “poorly planned project.”
Although the clergyman did not mention any name, his advice was seen as an attack on the youth movement of Obi.
Obi, therefore, noted that embracing other people's views will allow possible collaboration with them towards his presidential ambition during the 2023 general elections.
Other people who have been threatened by supporters of Obi include the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.