Contrary to news circulating in the media that the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi, was detained at Heathrow Airport in the UK, an eye-witness has claimed otherwise.
Recall that the Obi-Datti media office released a statement on Wednesday stating that Obi was pulled aside for an alleged duplication offense, implying that he had an impersonator in the country.
“Obi-Datti media office can confirm that the LP presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential poll had arrived the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria and joined the queue for the necessary airport protocols when he was accosted by an immigration official who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside,” the media team said.
“He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country.”
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It also claimed that it took the intervention of Nigerians who quickly raised their voices asking why Obi was being delayed.
However, an anonymous source, who spoke to Freelanews, claimed that he was on the same flight with Obi, alighted together from the plane, and watched him left the airport immediately.
“The flight landed on Friday and he left the airport almost immediately. If they are claiming he was detained, can they provide documents and the name of immigration officer that detained him?
“I know all these because I took picture with him after we alighted,” he said.
When he was asked if it was true some Nigerians protested his detention at the airport, the source confirmed that nothing of such happened.
“I’m of the opinion that it’s either some people are trying to provide soft landing for him or the release was made in an attempt at shoring up his public sympathy. There was no way there would be a protest and it wouldn’t be captured on people’s phones,” he concluded.
A social commentator pointed out that on critical analysis, the statement released by Obi-Datti media office didn’t add up.
“I think this is another way of painting the ruling party and Tinubu in bad light. Most of what is contained in the release were just blanket statement and subtle laundering of Peter Obi’s image more; a typical way of seeking public sympathy.
“He who alleges must prove. Let them show us documents supporting his detention,” he said.
A legal practitioner also added his own opinion to the puzzle.
“According to the statement by Labour Party, Peter Obi was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays. 😳😳😳
“How could that have happened?! Doesn’t he have a Lawyer in London?! The report said he lived there for 10 good years!
“The account of events don’t jell. Let’s remove Party politics for now.
“1. As a presidential candidate in the just concluded Nigerian elections, Peter Obi is no longer your average inconspicuous international traveller.
“2. If he has or had any diplomatic issue, the Nigerian High Commission is just a phone call away!
“3. It will be unprecedented for UK immigration to hold Peter Obi in detention for 3 to 4 days without either allowing him to call his lawyer or get in touch with our High Commissioner. The diplomatic fallout will be horrendous for the UK
“4. What is the nature of the “impersonation” ?! In this day and age, with biometric technology and all that, it will be useful to hear from Peter Obi himself, what was the true story. The nature of the allegations, and how he allowed himself to be detained for days abroad.
“As a matter of fact, he (PO) should be the one initiating action, either as legal redress or demanding apology from UK immigration for the embarrassment. Where is his strongly worded letter, of the incident? Why are we hearing of it through newspaper and only to be told he’s back in Nigeria. Doing what?!
“The federal government through the External Affairs Ministry should step in to unravel why an upstanding citizen was determined for days by UK immigration.
“Someone asks if PO is special. He’s “special” because he’s now a brand! A known name. An international figure! In diplomatic circles, he enjoys special recognition and status. So, it becomes hard for anyone to impersonate him.
“Besides, in the UK and other developed countries, there is a well established process to detaining anyone, how much more a known figure.
“I am just miffed regarding his days of detention by UK immigration. It is procedurally almost unheard of, for them to have held him that long! He would have committed far more than impersonation to warrant such. It’s my indignation that is worrying me. If there was a warrant out for his arrest and detention, he should and would have been informed before hand.
“There is definitely more to this story than meets the eye….,” he wrote.
Obi, who came third in the 25 February presidential election, and his party, who are co-petitioners, are currently seeking to upturn Tinubu’s victory as Nigeria’s president-elect declared by INEC.
Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, polled 8.8 million votes to beat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who came second in the race and Obi third.
In particular, Obi and his party accused the INEC and the APC of manipulating election results in favour of Tinubu.
But contrary to Obi’s claims that the election fell short of provisions of relevant laws, INEC argued that it conducted the polls in strict compliance with the constitution and electoral laws. The electoral umpire challenged Obi and his party to prove the contrary.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
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