The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) shows no signs of stopping, as factional National Publicity Secretary, Dr Abayomi Arabambi, warns presidential candidate Peter Obi against attacking President Bola Tinubu over his Chicago State University Diploma certificate.
In what appeared to be a public defense of Tinubu, Arabambi advised Obi to refrain from taunting Tinubu about the release of his academic records by the Chicago State University (CSU).
Tinubu’s academic records have sparked controversy, with many Nigerians demanding the President’s resignation on the grounds that he submitted forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election.
In response to the situation, Peter Obi called on Tinubu to present his true identity, pointing out that the issue paints all Nigerians as criminals.
However, Obi’s stance has faced criticism, especially from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency, and now even from within his own party.
During a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Arabambi described Obi’s remarks on the CSU saga as “unnecessary and unwarranted.”
Instead of attacking Tinubu, the LP spokesperson urged Obi to let the Supreme Court of Nigeria handle and resolve the matter.
Arabambi argued that since Obi, along with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have submitted to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, it would be inappropriate for Obi to resort to self-help while there is a pending appeal at the Apex Court.
He particularly disagreed with Obi’s assertion that all Nigerians are being treated as common criminals worldwide because of Tinubu’s certificate issue, stating that Obi had gone too far with an unsubstantiated claim.
Arabambi said, “We have been closely observing the various reactions and mudslinging regarding the unfounded allegations of forgery concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago State University Diploma Certificate.
“While we acknowledge that Peter Obi has the right to his opinion, he should be guided by the Constitution of Nigeria because he who approaches equity must come with clean hands.
“As the main opposition Party, the role played by LP’s former 2023 Presidential Candidate is highly condemnable, as it is evident that he is attempting to wage war against the President of Nigeria through intimidation to cause confusion.
“We believe that instead of Peter Obi engaging in this unnecessary media drama, recklessness, and comedy, he should have allowed the Supreme Court to determine the truth about the issues raised in the President’s certificate saga.”
Arabambi further revealed that, as the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, he was involved in the screening process of Obi as a presidential hopeful, and he discovered that the name on Peter Obi’s academic certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was different from the name on the former governor’s NYSC certificate and WAEC Certificate.
In addition, he stated, “A closer look and thorough examination of Peter Obi’s 1978 School Certificate results, hastily posted by Obi’s former aide Mr Oseloka Paul, shows the name ‘Obi Gregory Onwubuasi’ and not ‘Peter Onwubuasi Obi’.”
He continued, “I was among the individuals who conducted the screening for him. In the EC9 form we gave him, he indicated that he attended the University of Nigeria Nsukka and completed his youth service, but unfortunately, he only submitted his school certificate in the final submission of the form.
“So something seems suspicious, and I must say that the name the school sent for mobilization was not the same as what was written on his NYSC certificate, and he knows that.
“I don’t know what his intention is with this path he is taking. We have his petition before the Supreme Court, and the court documents do not match what he is now calling someone to reveal as his true identity.
“For us, even within the Labour Party, we don’t know Peter Obi’s true identity because everything was kept secretive at the time between him and Abure in Asaba.
“We were in a rush because we only had one day to do our presidential primary, which is how he managed to get away with it. However, we have evidence that the name on Obi’s NYSC certificate is different from the one on his University of Nigeria, Nsukka certificate.”
Arabambi, who presented several documents with Obi’s different names, urged the LP presidential candidate to promote peace by avoiding actions and statements that could cause dissent in the country.
He vehemently denied being sponsored by the Presidency to oppose Obi, stating that all the Labour Party wants is for Obi to adhere to the law in handling the petition against Tinubu.
