Supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential flagbearer for the 2023 elections, have decried the freezing of their account by the Nigerian government.
TBN Global Leadership (TBN), an NGO that supports Mr. Obi raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by an unnamed government agency to stifle its crowd funding initiative by blocking its account domiciled with Keystone bank.
In a statement issued by the group’s spokesperson, Danjuma Garba Musa, the group said Keystone bank had informed them that an unnamed government agency had ordered that its account be blocked.
The statement read in part, “We see this development as an act of political persecution, suppression and intimidation form the powers that be to stop this youth driven grassroots movement from carrying out activities protected by the constitution.
“TBN is a socio-political movement and a non-governmental organization made up
of well meaning patriotic Nigerians, actively engaged in promoting good governance and democratic ideals in Nigeria.
“It is our core value to support competent and credible candidates during elections leveraging the energy of youths who will determine electoral outcomes at all levels irrespective of political party.
“Against the 2023 General Elections, TBN Global Leadership has endorsed Mr. Peter Obi and his running mate , Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed of the Labour Party as the most credible and competent candidates .
“TBN has Publicity solicited and equally received donations for the sole purpose of funding grassroots activities to support the ObiDatti Presidential campaign activities.”
The group further said, “We categorically state that blocking our account or any manner of repression will in no way stop us from supporting the ObiDatti 2023 mandate.”
It appealed to relevant authorities to reconsider the sanction while urging donors to bear with the organisation as efforts were on to seek redress in order to unblock the said account.
Censorship of Names containing ”Peter Obi”
Other support groups of the Labour Party candidate had also decried the censorship in registering their organizations with the Corporate Affairs Commision (CAC).
”We were informed by the CAC that the government will not register any name that has ”Peter Obi” in it.” Said one of the conveners of the support groups who chose to be anonymous.
A member of the Peter Obi Media Volunteers said his group has been incapacitated by the move, adding that it has stunted their efforts to raise funds from their members for the campaign.
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