The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday debunked a statement allegedly credited to him, wherein he reportedly said ‘70% of Nigerian politicians are lunatics’. In a statement issued by his Media Unit, Obi described the allegation as mischievous and false.
The statement reads: “The attention of Mr. Peter Obi’s Media Office has been drawn to an article being circulated, where Mr. Peter Obi was quoted to have said ‘70% of Nigerian Politicians are Lunatics’.
“Let it be made clear that Obi, not known for violence of speech, did not make the statement. It is the handiwork of mischief makers, who have been trying, over the years, to quote him out of context or twist his state- ments in a manner to set him against the people.
“Anybody who has listened to Obi, even when he was the governor, would know that he always, when he wants to show that the wrong people have taken over would talk in terms of lunatics taking over the asylum, which plainly means that those that are not supposed to be in a particular place have displaced the rightful people.
“Therefore, the use of “Lunatics,” is always euphemistic. Obi has never and would never use it plainly to designate a given set of people as if to suggest they are mad, as the writer suggested he said about politicians.
He cannot so degrade a tribe he belongs to.” Obi, however, assures Nigerians across the country of his continued respect for them and institutions.
