Former Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff has alleged that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), believes in Biafra and is using his presidential ambition to push for the division of Nigeria.
Sheriff made the claim on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television while reacting to Obi’s recent call for President Bola Tinubu to resign or step aside over the country’s worsening insecurity.
According to Sheriff, Obi is “the most unqualified person” to make such a demand because of what he believes.
He also alleged that the former Anambra governor has never condemned the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), its ideology, or its goals.
“This country, Nigeria, fought a civil war. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to fight that war to keep the country together, both leaders from the north and the south,” Sheriff said.
“The cause of the war was Ojukwu’s demand to secede. Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria.
“How? Because he believes in Biafra. He never condemned Biafra. He never condemned IPOB.
“Biafra is secession. Our leaders fought to keep the country together. He wants to divide Nigeria.”
When asked how someone seeking to become Nigeria’s president could want to divide the country, Sheriff challenged Obi to publicly reject the allegation.
“He should deny it,” the former governor said.
“He should come to this station and say he doesn’t believe in dividing the country.
“He should deny it. I am confronting him, telling him this is what he stands for.”
Sheriff said Nigeria has moved past the civil war and insisted that anyone seeking to lead the country must be committed to its unity.
“People like Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, T.Y. Danjuma, General Shua, and General Abacha all have bullet wounds on their bodies because they fought to keep Nigeria together,” he said.
“Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section.”
In recent weeks, Obi has twice asked President Tinubu to resign over Nigeria’s security and economic problems.
On June 22, the former Anambra governor urged the president to leave office, describing his administration as a “monumental failure” in governance.
Obi said he reflected on political accountability after listening to the resignation speech of Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, who announced plans to step down amid public dissatisfaction over economic challenges and unmet campaign promises.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s current situation reflects the criticisms Tinubu made against former President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 elections.
On Sunday, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate repeated his call after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) claimed Nigeria failed to record some public spending in different budgets.
Obi said the claim raises concerns about the scale of grand corruption under President Tinubu’s administration.
