Dare Babalola
Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju has cautioned supporters of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate to stop vilifying a former spokesman for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo over his recent statement.
Okonkwo, on Monday, said no southern candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, adding that handing the sole ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to a southerner is synonymous with declaring a second-term victory for the president.
His statement angered supporters of Obi, known as the Obidient Movement and they have since berated the former spokesperson.
In a post on Wednesday, Adeyanju slammed the group, noting that the actor has the right to a candidate of his choice without fear of condemnation or ridicule.
He said, “Keneth Okonkwo has the right not to support your candidate again. When he was supporting your candidate, was he paid to support him? Now that he is no longer supporting your preferred candidate, you want to ridicule and vilify him.”
He also warned against political extremism saying that people’s rights must be respected no matter the difference in choice.
“People have the right to have different opinions, ideological and political views from me and I must respect their choices and right to hold same. The idea that if people are not supporting what or who you like, they are your enemies is political extremism and terrorism. People have the right to support Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Sowore or anyone they like. This is what is called inalienable rights. You must respect people’s rights,” the lawyer stated.
