Former presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, has described a trending post on the social media as false, emphasizing that such falsehood will not stop the massive support for the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Dr. Okupe gave the indication on his official Twitter handle while reacting to a picture of a boy abusing Nigerian flag claiming to be Peter Obi ‘s son.

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THIS IS NOT PETER OBI’S SON. NO AMOUNT OF FALSEHOOD WILL DAMPEN THE CURRENT WAVE OF SUPPO FOR PETER OBI.
See what they’re sharing in the north to Sacre people from peter obi

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by one A.G. Mahmoud, wherein he accused, H.E. @PeterObi of insolence and hatred of Nigerians of Northern extraction.

Without any iota of doubt, the entire write up is a well written “treatise” aimed at damaging the growing national acceptance of Peter Obi; and incense the electorates of the North against his candidacy.

I will not argue on the authenticity of the accusations or the merit or demerit of the venomous write up.
I will rather mention here that over the years we have all offended on another and committed acts that stoke the embers of hatred on all sides.

And this is applicable to all ethnic groups: Hausas, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbos, Southern & Northern minorities, all across Nigerian communities.
For a fact, the whole nation went to war against a single ethnic group – the Igbos. This tribe were on the receiving end of a 3-year war.

We all know how devastating that war was on the igbos – psychologically, financially, emotionally and positionally in the scheme of things in Nigeria.
Those who bore the brunt of the evil of that war cannot be said to be in a loving relationship with their assailants.

The North up till today has not forgiven the igbos for the role of the five Majors during the 1966 coup. Also the East holds it against the West that the late leader of the Yorubas finally dropped off from his initial support of the secession plan,

…only to later team up with the Federal Government against Biafra.

The Yorubas on their own side hold it against Zik, the Igbo leader that he dumped Chief Awolowo to later form government with the North, led by Alhaji Balewa.

Or how can we not mention the visceral pains the Yorubas feel for the annulment of MKO Abiola’s election and his subsequent demise?

So it is that in our past we all have offended, maltreated and jeopardized the interest of one another.

We have come to a point in our natural history when we must bury the pains and intrinsic hatred we feel, begin the process of healing and of forgiving one another.

Going the route as copiously espoused by A.G. MAHMOUD in his write up, is to expose the nation to an ill and foul wind that does no good to anyone or any section of the country.

The teeming youths who increasingly support Peter Obi are moved with the passion to rescue their lives and reset the country for greater, brighter and a better future which presently is being threatened by the very sentiments being propagated by A.G. Mahmoud.

In this season and times, most Nigerians, enemies or foes alike, of Peter Obi, are united in the belief that he is the ONLY one of the 4 leading candidates that is best suited to bring Nigeria out of its numerous present predicaments and challenges.

I will admonish well meaning Nigerians, for the sake of a better and greater future that a Peter Obi’s leadership guarantees, to exercise greatest restraints in the type of negative sentiments we bring up just to score political goals.

Nigeria is on a divine mission through @PeterObi, to recover its lost glory and be great again.

May the Almighty God show us mercy… Heal our pains, and help us all to make the sacrifices we need to make to secure the future of this Nation and the wellbeing of its teeming youthful generation. Amen.

• Dr. Doyin Okupe.