*Photo: Osuntokun*
Director General (DG) of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Akin Osuntokun has denied being the author of a press release which claimed the Oba of Lagos refused to honour a courtesy visit request by Mr Peter Obi during his Campaign in the state over the weekend.
Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) had come under intense criticism for holding a campaign rally in Lagos on Saturday without the courtesy of visiting the Palace to pay homage.
In a statement made available to The Shield on Monday and titled A REBUTTAL Re: Oba of Lagos: LP Courtesy Visit, Osuntokun said:
“My attention has been drawn to a fictitious “Press Release” purportedly released by me titled “Oba of Lagos : LP courtesy Visit”.
“The said deceptive release claimed, among other things that “We informed Oba of Lagos that Peter Obi wanted to come and pay homage to him before our rally in Lagos but Oba said that we should not come”. The fictitious release further claimed that Oba’s reason for not wanting to meet with Peter Obi was that “Oba is not interested in seeing another presidential candidate except Bola Tinubu”.
“I wish to clearly state that the fictitious release did not emanate from me, and I never had such a conversation with the revered Oba of Lagos or any of his representatives. Please disregard the release at whatever it represents. Henceforth, please disregard any other release that does not originate from our campaigns official communication channels.
“May I once again assure Nigerians that we will continue to run a campaign that is devoid of calumny, and by the grace of God we shall overcome.”