The British government has apologised to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for his illegal detention at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The apology came after an immigration official admitted to wrongfully handing him a detention note during a search for a man who impersonated him in order to commit perjury, forgery, and identity theft.
British authorities said the unfavourable treatment he received was “completely unacceptable,” and they issued a personal apology.
“Frankly, the Immigration Official’s action has been appalling – and we are sorry,” immigration officials apologised.
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On April 7, 2023, Obi was reportedly detained and interrogated for hours by immigration officials at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Diran Onifade, the Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, also confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
According to the Obi-Datti media office, the former Governor of Anambra State was wrongfully detained for crimes allegedly committed by an impostor who is still at large.
According to the statement, the impostor of Obi may commit various crimes that would result in the arrest of the LP flagbearer in the United Kingdom for duplication.
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“The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, just returned from London, United Kingdom, where he celebrated Easter, has confirmed that he was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention but for the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport.”
“The Obi-Datti Media office can confirm that the LP Presidential candidate in the February 25 Presidential poll arrived at Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, 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.” He was questioned for an extended period of time, which was unusual for a man who had lived in that country for over a decade.
“Because Obi’s face was already an international frame, especially for Nigerians, Africans at home, and in Diaspora who are likely to be Obidients, people quickly raised their voices, wondering why he was being delayed.”
“Immigration officials, who were also taken aback by the people’s reaction, were forced to reveal that Obi was being questioned for a duplication offense, which means that someone had been impersonating him in London.”
“The seriousness of the offence is that the impersonator could be committing serious crimes and other heinous acts in Obi’s name.”
“Because the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unthinkable, as Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a way that would be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the Obidient Movement, and indeed Nigeria, where he currently and undeniably remains the conscience of the people.”
The Obi-Datti Media Office stated that Obi has been under constant attack since the February 25 presidential election, and that it is not surprising that he was detained for hours in the United Kingdom.
It assured all people of goodwill, particularly Obidients, that Obi is back in the country and unafraid to suffer the pain in order to pursue his “stolen mandate.”
“Obi-Datti Media office recalls that our principal has been under all kinds of attack, since the February 25th, 2023 Presidential election, in which as the standard bearer of the Labour Party, he put up an outstanding showing coming third out of 18 contestants as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, even though his supporters and many other election watchers, including international observers, believe very strongly that he won the elec.”
“Since he was told to go to court if he feels strongly about the election, which all international monitors agreed was flawed and full of imperfections and he accepted, he has faced severe attacks from all sides.”
“Even the Federal Government, which ordered him to go to court, dispatched Minister of Information Lai Mohammad to the United States to try to de-market him and accused him of treason.”
“Obi’s phone line was also bugged when they were possibly looking for information to portray him negatively in front of a section of the country that had voted for him massively.”
“As if they weren’t getting the desired results of denting his image and possibly putting the traducers under a heavier conscience load, they tried to persuade him to leave the country and go take a rest.”
“It’s also not impossible that those urging him to leave the country planted the impersonators, ostensibly to tar the Eagle’s immaculate appearance.”
“The Obi-Datti Media Office would like to therefore assure all persons of goodwill, especially the Obidients, that the rock is not deterred as he is ready to suffer the pain and remain even more determined to pursue whichever path his creator destined for him in Nigeria.”
