By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, to order for allegedly gagging the media and making frivolous allegations against members of opposition political parties.
Clark, in a statement, particularly, frowned at the minister for “peddling lies against the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.”
The First Republic minister claimed that Mohammed has become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news.
He, therefore, called on Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to investigate Mohammed and charge him to court.
The senior citizen went on: “It is, therefore, highly hypocritical within government circles today, that statements made to ensure that there is diligent dispensation of justice with regards to the largely flawed 2023 elections that didn’t threaten the existence of the country are being tagged treasonable.
“Even more regrettable is the fact that an innocent stakeholder in the person of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party, who has not uttered a word, is being mischievously dragged in.
“Moreover, rather than mention the names of those who have been raising this question, while drag the name of Obi, who has been totally silent on the subject matter, if not for cheap political gain.
“Like I said, Lai Mohammed did not base his information on any credible intelligence report from the state agencies, but on propaganda and falsity.
“Therefore, I am of the opinion that he should be charged for spreading an unhealthy information and fake news against an innocent Nigerian, who is very prominent and has proven his worth in the country.
“Lai Mohammed used the exalted office of the nation’s Ministry of Information to commit this perfidy.
“Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the just concluded elections, has never taken the laws into his hands. He is going about his case, in the constitutionally provided way.
“He was the first to seek redress in court over what he felt was an unfair and unjust manner of conducting elections. It is his constitutional right to do so.
Muhammadu Buhari, in the number of times he contested and failed elections, did same.
“We all know that at no time from the beginning of the current political season did His Excellency, Peter Obi, make any statement that in whatever manner constituted a breach or threat to the peace and security of this country.”
Source: The Guardian
