• Accuses VP of selective respect for opposition leaders
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has taken a swipe at Vice-President Kashim Shettima over his description of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as “diminished,” accusing him of double standards and abandoning political decency in his assessment of opposition leaders.
The media office questioned why Shettima would demand respect for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar while making what it described as disparaging remarks about Obi, insisting that political contests should be determined by ideas, policies and records of performance rather than personal attacks.
Shettima had, on Saturday, during the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern political coalition supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the Vice-President in Abuja, expressed confidence in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying internal divisions posed a greater threat to the party than its opponents.
“Honestly, I am not afraid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi. But I am more afraid of internal contradictions within our household. If we unite as a people, as a family, we will conquer.”
Shettima also urged supporters to work towards defeating Atiku at the polls, while emphasising the need to treat the former Vice-President with respect.
“Go and perform. Go and defeat Baba Atiku. Defeat him respectfully,” he said.
Reacting in a statement yesterday, POMR, through its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, described Shettima’s remarks as unbecoming of the office of the Vice-President, arguing that political differences should not become an excuse for personal denigration.
The office maintained that while Shettima was entitled to oppose Obi and campaign vigorously against him, the same standard of respect he advocated for Atiku should apply to other opposition figures.
It argued that Obi had consistently conducted his political engagements with decorum, concentrating on governance, economic development and the welfare of Nigerians rather than attacking political opponents.
POMR also challenged Shettima to subject his record as governor of Borno State to the same scrutiny as Obi’s performance during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
According to the media office, Obi’s administration recorded achievements in fiscal discipline, education and healthcare which, it maintained, compared favourably with Shettima’s record in Borno.
“If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling,” the statement said.
The media office further criticised what it described as the tendency of some political leaders, particularly in the South-East, to disparage Obi because of differences in party affiliation.
It urged Igbo politicians in the APC and other political parties to recognise that political loyalty should not override mutual respect or the dignity of individuals holding opposing views.
POMR insisted that the nation’s political discourse would be better served by robust debates on policies, leadership records and solutions to the country’s challenges rather than exchanges of personal insults.
“Nigeria needs a contest based on records and ideas, not selective respect and political denigration,” it said.
The office maintained that no political officeholder had the authority to determine the relevance of an opponent, stressing that such judgment ultimately belonged to the electorate.
“The Nigerian people, rather than Shettima’s rhetoric, will determine Peter Obi’s political relevance,” the statement added.