Chidi, a Twitter user and diehard supporter of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in the 2023 presidential election, has shared a picture of the lead Justice of the Presidential Election Petition Court, Haruna Tsammani with two children on social media, warning him against compromising his integrity on the election petitions before him.
The ‘Obidient’ who goes by Harry of Milan (@SantaChidi) on Twitter shared the picture with a stern warning that if his Panel of Justices should compromise themselves in the judgment, Tsammani would regret it.
The post was made on Wednesday.
Justice Haruna Tsammani leads the panel of five Justices of PEPTC with Moses Ugo, Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Stephen Adah, and Abbah Mohammed as members.
His message reads, “Hello Justice Haruna Tsammani! I know people will say this is blackmail or whitemail or LGTV mail, I don’t give a flying hoot.
Some Labour Party and Peter Obi’s supporters are notorious for cyberbullying and threatening anyone who appears to be against the party or Obi.
Ahead of the election, Femi Kuti, musician and son of the late pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, raised the alarm that some fans of Obi threatened to burn down the New Afrika Shrine.
The New Afrika Shrine hosts Felabration, a music festival organised annually in honour of Fela.
In a video posted via his Twitter handle, Femi Kuti said some supporters of Obi threatened to burn down Afrika Shrine for saying he was not an ‘Obidient’. ‘Obidient’ was coined by supporters of Obi or members of the ‘Obidient Movement’ as the name by which they identify themselves.
Femi Kuti said his family was also threatened.
He said, “I woke up today to insults, abusing me, my family, and my children. They threatened me saying they would burn the shrine because they said I said Peter Obi supporters are Zombies.
“First, what I said was that I was too angry, sad, and depressed to be obedient. How can anybody come up with such a term? I can’t be obedient. EndSARS, killings. My grandmother was killed and my father’s house burned.
“The oppression of my family. Obedient is sitting when you’re told to sit. I said Obi was friends with Atiku, becoming his vice president. If they had won, they’d be pals by now. I didn’t call Peter Obi supporters Zombies.”
“I don’t like the [campaign coinage] Obi-dient. I don’t support Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Bola Tinubu. I’ve never supported any political party,” he added.
“My family is already heartbroken. If Obi wins and things change, we will all jubilate. But who are you to tell me not to have my doubts? Don’t come threatening me saying you’d burn the shrine. Stop that rubbish.”
Also, a popular columnist, Sam Omatseye, alleged that supporters of Obi used death threats against him over one of his articles.
He added that Obi would be held responsible if anything happened to him.
He said, “Mr. Peter Obi, call your supporters to order. They are calling and issuing death threats. If anything happens to me, you will be held responsible!!!!”
Obi earlier had to caution his supporters and loyalists against being toxic, urging them to tolerate other people’s views and opinions.
The former Anambra Governor said this on his Twitter page in July 2022 following his supporters’ criticism of Poju Oyemade, senior pastor of Covenant Christian Centre and others perceived as attacking Obi on social media.
Oyemade had advised youths not to waste their enthusiasm on a “poorly planned project.”
Although the clergyman did not mention any name, his advice was seen as an attack on the youth movement of Obi.
Obi, therefore, noted that embracing other people’s views will allow possible collaboration with them towards his presidential ambition during the 2023 general elections.
Other people who have been threatened by supporters of Obi include Prof. Wole Soyinka, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
