Obidient Movement slams Ali Modu Sheriff over comments on Peter Obi

The Obidient Movement has strongly criticised former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, over his comments accusing former presidential candidate Peter Obi of supporting the division of Nigeria, describing the allegations as false and a diversion from the country’s pressing governance challenges.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Media and Communications Directorate, the movement said Sheriff failed to address questions about the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration during his appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, choosing instead to focus on Obi and the Nigerian Civil War.

The group maintained that Obi’s position on Nigeria’s unity has remained consistent, insisting that he believes in a united country where every citizen has equal opportunities regardless of ethnicity or religion.

It cited Obi’s tenure as Chairman of Fidelity Bank, claiming he supported investments in businesses across the country, including Umza Rice in Kano State, as evidence of his commitment to national development without ethnic or regional considerations.

According to the statement, Obi has also consistently advocated economic policies aimed at unlocking the agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria to drive national growth and reduce dependence on oil revenue.

The movement further rejected Sheriff’s allegation that Obi sympathises with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), arguing that the former Anambra State governor has repeatedly advocated dialogue, justice and inclusion as part of efforts to address insecurity and national grievances.

It also claimed that IPOB had, on several occasions, criticised and threatened Obi because of his support for a united Nigeria.

The Obidient Movement accused Sheriff of attempting to shift public attention away from what it described as worsening insecurity, economic hardship and governance failures under the current administration.

It further alleged that resorting to discussions about the civil war and ethnic issues whenever questions are raised about the government’s performance amounted to political distraction.

The statement also criticised Sheriff over his past political record, alleging that he lacked the moral standing to question Obi’s patriotism.

The movement urged Nigerians to remain focused on issues affecting their daily lives, including insecurity, inflation and the economy, rather than what it described as divisive political rhetoric.

The reaction followed comments made by Sheriff on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television, where he dismissed Obi’s recent call for President Tinubu to resign over worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

Sheriff alleged that Obi believes in the Biafra cause and has never condemned either the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or its secessionist agenda.

According to the former Borno governor, anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the country’s unity, arguing that Obi should publicly deny supporting the division of the country if the allegations were untrue.

The exchange comes amid sustained criticism of the Tinubu administration by Obi, who has on several occasions in recent weeks called on the President to resign, citing deteriorating security, economic hardship and concerns over fiscal accountability following recent observations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).