The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has exonerated the United Kingdom Immigration officers from any wrong doing regarding the allegations of his alleged detention in April at the London airport.
According to him, he was never arrested in the UK as reported, adding that he was only stopped by the Immigration offers for a routine immigration check.
The former Anambra State governor also slammed the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for his treason accusations levelled against him.
Speaking during Arise News with him on Monday, the former Anambra state governor spoke on various issues surrounding his party and himself especially issues pertaining to his recent alleged arrest in the United Kingdoms on charges of impersonation.
The presidential candidate assured that he was in no way arrested but was simply pulled aside for a routine check to alert him on impersonation of his Visa to the UK.
“I was never arrested, nor detained neither did I commit any offense in the UK, I was stopped for a routine immigration check because there appeared to be a duplication of my identity. I have lived in the UK for over 10 years and I have never been questioned, or arrested in the UK or any other part of the world in relation to an offense, I was questioned for less than 20 minutes and treated with the utmost respect.”
Peter Obi made it clear that he did not own any form of dual citizenship claiming that he even forfeited his permanent stay in the UK and stated that his honorary citizenship in Dallas, was nothing but a formal welcome to the state.
“My honorary citizenship in Dallas, Texas means ‘Lnothing, it doesn’t even grant me Visa-free entry to the United States. I have never applied and I will never apply for citizenship of any other country, I am a Nigerian who believes in Nigeria.”
He said it was “rascality” for the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to accuse him of treason, due to comments made by his running mate in the election, Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed.
“Lai Mohammed calling me out for treason is the height of rascality. I was in Onitsha and he went to Washington D.C to make that declaration. This is a waste of government resources, that money should have been channeled to build more classrooms.
“I’m sure if you go to his village, there are so many children that don’t even have desks to go to school. And instead of using that money to do it he used that money to go to Washington to announce treason of someone who is in Onitsha.”
He also cleared the air concerning rumours of the “Yes daddy” audio that was alleged to be a recorded phone conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo calling the election a “religious warfare”. He did this by saying, “I am not a religious or tribal bigot but let them make of that what they will.”
In concluding the interview, the LP candidate ended by stating that he was in no way desperate to become the next president of Nigeria.
“I am not desperate to become president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
