By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Media Office of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has dismissed claims that he repatriated Northerners during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, describing the allegation as false, malicious and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, the media office accused Obi’s political opponents of deliberately spreading ethnic and regional misinformation to undermine his growing political influence in Northern Nigeria.

The statement said claims that Obi “repatriated” Northerners, particularly traders and beggars, while serving as governor were entirely unfounded and designed to create division.

According to Umar, what took place under Obi’s administration was a social welfare intervention aimed at assisting vulnerable persons, including destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from different parts of the country.

“The recurring myth that Mr. Obi ‘repatriated’ Northerners or specifically targeted Northern traders and beggars during his governorship is utterly unfounded,” the statement said.

“In truth, during Obi’s leadership, there was a compassionate social welfare initiative focused on assisting destitute individuals and unaccompanied minors from various states who faced severe vulnerability in Awka and Onitsha. There was never any form of expulsion or ethnic cleansing.”

The media office further maintained that Obi enjoyed cordial relations with Northern and Muslim communities resident in Anambra throughout his eight-year administration.

It stated that during periods of ethno-religious tension in parts of Nigeria, Obi ensured the protection of Northern communities in areas such as the Hausa quarters in Onitsha, popularly known as Ama Awusa.

“Even during times of significant national ethno-religious strife, Mr. Obi served as a protector for the Northern community, particularly in regions like the Onitsha Hausa Quarter (Ama Awusa),” the statement added.

The POMR also claimed that Obi’s government sponsored Muslim faithful from Anambra for pilgrimage to Mecca and created an enabling environment for Northern traders and livestock dealers to operate without harassment.

“Under Obi’s stewardship, Northern traders and livestock merchants in markets such as Amansea were provided with safe environments to operate, free from government-backed harassment or extortion,” Umar said.

The media office argued that recent attacks against Obi were connected to what it described as his economic vision for Northern Nigeria, particularly his advocacy for agriculture and production-driven growth.

“We understand the motivations behind this continued smear campaign; it relates to Obi’s transformative vision for the North as Nigeria’s key economic driver,” the statement said.

“Mr. Obi has consistently and openly asserted that Nigeria’s future lies in the untapped, fertile lands of Northern Nigeria. His vision focuses on shifting Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy to one of production.”

The statement warned against the spread of ethnic misinformation for political gains, insisting that Obi’s relationship with Northern communities could be independently verified.

“This falsehood will not endure, as Peter Obi possesses a vision for the geopolitical North that no other current Nigerian leader can match,” the statement added.