Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni has criticised the lawsuit filed against a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo by the legal team of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi.
Obi had dragged the actor-turned politician to court for allegedly defaming him on national TV after the conduct of the NDC primary elections in the South East.
Recall that Okonkwo, in a recent interview, alleged that the NDC presidential candidate and other leaders of the party in the region collected bribes from aspirants vying for House of Representatives and senatorial seats.
Obi’s camp strongly pushed back the claim, leading to a defamation suit and a seven-day ultimatum for Okonkwo to retract the claim.
Speaking on the Arise TV morning show, Rufai said Okonkwo is a “political surrogate” and that Obi shouldn’t bother with the case.
Rufai, giving his reason, said the lawsuit amplified the allegations, saying that Okonkwo’s claim only became news after Obi lambasted him.
He said, “If I am to advise Mr Peter Obi, I would tell him to withdraw that case from the court.
He doesn’t have to. I can bet you that a lot of people did not even hear Kenneth Okonkwo say it. It made news when Peter Obi sued him.
“You just gave a media traction to this guy, allow him to talk as he wants, the best you can do is refute it. It’s not everything you react to”.
