Three former commissioners of police (CPs) who served in Anambra State have denied allegation that Peter Obi demolished mosques and sacked non-indigenes, particularly northerners, during his tenure as governor.
Obi, who was Anambra governor from 2006 to 2014, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.
Speaking on different occasions, Gwary Usman, Amusa Bello and Philemon Leha, who retired in higher ranks, expressed concern over the spate of fake news targeted at impugning the integrity of credible Nigerians,
Bello, who was CP in Anambra from 2006 to 2010, described the allegation against Obi as laughable at best and a figment of the author’s imagination.
“I call on those behind this rumour to desist from that and look for fact.
They should stop this ‘pull him down syndrome’ that will never take them anywhere good.
Peter Obi has a lot of credentials and several attributes that favour him in his aspiration.
He dresses simple and all that. Let them look for fact. He has emerged VP candidate to Atiku (Abubakar). It’s God that ordained him. Let them support him,” Bello said.
Similarly, Leha, who retired as deputy inspector general of police, asserted that the Obi he worked with could not have and did not demolish mosques nor asked non-indigenes to leave Anambra.
Leah said: “I am from the North and I know what I am saying. Northerners are among the people holding the economy of Anambra State and in what circumstances could a governor have sacked them?
“Numbering millions, they are practically everywhere in the state, including Awka, Amansea, Onitsha, Nnewi and many other towns and communities. Let Nigerians be assured that the allegation is a lie.
“Anybody spreading that kind of rumour is not being fair to the man and that is not the way to go for our national development.”
Usman, who retired as an assistant inspector general of police, described the allegation as “false and wicked.”
In his words: “It is not true, the allegation is false and. I was in the state as CP and I was better placed to know the truth. Throughout the time I was in Anambra, nothing like that ever happened.
“Peter Obi you see is a nice gentleman. I can vouch for him. He is a detribalised citizen. I can tell you authoritatively that even if I wake of from slumber and you ask me this question, I will tell you that Obi did not and can never hate any northerner.
“I am surprised that our people are being deceived.”
