The former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party  (PDP),  Mr. Peter Obi has expressed surprise at the statement credited to Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State,  who, in his twitter account, referred to Obi as  “ a tribal bigot.”

El Rufai alleged that Obi  stopped him from moving around Anambra State during the  gubernatorial election in the State in 2010.  Obi said he was shocked to read such an  outburst of hate from El Rufai, especially when, according to him,  “the statement came unprovoked, suggesting that it was what he sat down to think of rather than thinking about how to solve the many problems plaguing the country.” Obi was speaking in answer to  journalists that sought his reply to El Rufai’s tweet during Youth Programme at Nnewi today.

In Obi’s words: “What His Excellency, Gov.  Nasir Ahmad El Rufai said about me has been brought to my attention. I believe that as we grow older and are saddled with more responsibilities, we are expected to become circumspect in our thinking and avoid recklessness in our speeches and utterances.  How does the circumstance he referred to in relation to bigotry to warrant such a label?  All I do for people like El Rufai is to pray for them and encourage  them to concentrate on  doing those things that will better the lots of Nigerians rather than engage in hate speeches that will divide and destroy  the country.”

Insisting that Nigeria does not need violence of speech to solve her numerous problems, Obi continues:  “At this difficult time in our country, when thousands of our brothers and sisters across ethnic divides are killed  all over the country, including innocent citizens in Kaduna state;  millions of our  children from all the parts of the country  are  out of school;  millions of Nigerian youths from all the parts of the country are without jobs, our  pre-occupation, especially among those that are in government should not be  making reckless speeches.  What our leaders should be doing today is seeking solution to numerous problems of our dear country.”

Concerning the claim that he was arrested on the election day in Anambra, Obi said : “I am aware that during  the said election he referred to, security agents merely  restricted his movement  because he has no business being in Anambra as I would not have any  being in Kaduna  on an  election day.”

Concluding, Obi cautioned Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority, to avoid the dominance of the vice of hate  over the virtues of love in whatever they do.