The National leader of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi on Friday said the attribution of politics and religion to his philanthropy and charity works is malicious and frivolous.
Obi in a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), alleged that some persons operating under the guise of civil society and non-government organisations are out to blackmail and malign him.
The statement signed by Dr Yunusa Tanko, spokesman of POMR, stated that Obi’s philanthropy is purely altruistic to support underprivileged Nigerians of all faiths.
“Peter Obi understands fully the constitutional dictates of separation of church/mosque and state and that Nigeria is an undisputed secular state,” the media office added.
It accused “some powerful political interests” of playing political and religious cards to distract Obi’s attention from his patriotic and compassionate position.
The statement noted that Obi’s primary concern in and out of public office was to pursue the welfare of “the underprivileged in society who he believes should have a better life given the abundant human and natural resources bestowed on this country by God.
“His acts of philanthropy and altruism transcend politics and religion.”
The media office added that Obi’s visit to churches and mosques is purely prompted by his urge to help the less privileged and has nothing to do with political campaigns.
“In these places, Obi had given messages of hope to lift the spirit of the downtrodden. He hardly and never talked about politics, abused anybody or indulged in name-calling,” it stated.
According to Obi’s media office, the LP national leader visited some praying centres during Ramadan, to breakfast with the Muslim faithful, as well as some churches during the Christian Holy Week, and celebrated Easter with prisoners.
“What remains an undisputed fact, is that Peter Obi’s charity work predates politics and he would never be intimidated to change this personal disposition, which he believes is an assignment for him from his creator,” it stated.
It urged members of the public to ignore any insinuations of politics and religion, which it said, was a grand design to limit Obi’s freedom of movement and citizenship welfare action.
