2023: El-Rufai Allegedly Blocks Peter Obi’s (Obidients) Supporters from using Arewa House

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has allegedly denied Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), a foremost support group working for the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, from using a proposed venue for its event.

A statement by POSN said the governor through his spokesperson called the Manager of Arewa House to notify POSN spokesperson that “we cannot have #Peter/Datti Northern Summit in Arewa House”, less than 24 hours to the event.

According to the group, the governor failed to give any reason for turning down the group’s widely-advertised planned use of the venue.

The frontline support group had unveiled plans to hold a summit specifically designed to interact with supporters of the frontline presidential candidate across the 19 Northern States of the country.

Comrade Sani Saeed Altukry, Spokesperson, Peter Obi Support Network (POSN) told newsmen on Monday morning that the summit was not a political campaign of any sorts, but a convergence of volunteers and would-be volunteers and supporters of the Obi-Datti project, for necessary interactions and cross-fertilization of ideas.

The event was initially billed to hold on the 19th of July 2022 at the popular Arewa House, Raba Road, Kaduna, Kaduna State, but the governor issued a directive cancelling the use of the venue after the group had paid for its use.

POSN further stated that Governor Emaill-Rufai was too small to stop the “Peoples Movement” which Peter Obi represented, vowing not to succumb to intimidation aimed at suppressing the liberation of northern Nigeria from under-development and poverty.

The statement reads: “we condemn the decision of the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to block the hosting of the Northern Summit for Peter Obi and Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and his running mate at the Arewa House in the state.

“The decision of the Governor is disheartening at the critical point in time when Northern Nigerians are desperate for development and liberation from poverty due to maladministration.

“The Governor of Kaduna state is intimidated by the rising profile of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, across the length and breadth of the country.

“The Governor should know that this is a “Peoples Movement” which can never be stopped.

“The Movement represents all oppressed Nigerians and everyone that desires good governance, and Governor El-Rufai is too small to suppress it.” (The Whisperer)