Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has accused former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi of supporting the Biafra cause, saying he is not qualified to call on President Bola Tinubu to resign over the country's security challenges.
Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, while reacting to Obi's recent demand that Tinubu step aside over worsening insecurity.
According to Sheriff, Obi has never condemned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra or its separatist agenda.
"This country, Nigeria, fought a civil war. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to fight that war to keep the country together, both leaders from the north and the south," Sheriff said.
He alleged that Obi's political position supports the division of Nigeria.
"The cause of the war was Ojukwu's demand to secede. Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria."
"Because he believes in Biafra. He never condemned Biafra. He never condemned IPOB."
"Biafra is secession. Our leaders fought to keep the country together. He wants to divide Nigeria."
When asked how a presidential hopeful could be accused of pursuing Nigeria's division, Sheriff challenged Obi to publicly reject the allegation.
"He should deny it."
"He should come to this station and say he doesn't believe in dividing the country."
"He should deny it. I am confronting him, telling him this is what he stands for."
Sheriff said Nigeria had moved beyond the civil war era and argued that anyone seeking the country's highest office must be committed to its unity.
"People like Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, T.Y. Danjuma, General Shua, and General Abacha all have bullet wounds on their bodies because they fought to keep Nigeria together."
"Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section."
Obi has, in recent weeks, repeatedly called on President Tinubu to resign over what he describes as failures in governance, insecurity and the economy.
On June 22, the former Anambra governor described the Tinubu administration as a "monumental failure" and said his position was influenced by the resignation speech of Keir Starmer, which he said underscored the importance of political accountability.
On Sunday, Obi renewed the call after the International Monetary Fund reportedly said Nigeria failed to capture some public spending in its budgets. He said the development raised fresh concerns about transparency and corruption under the Tinubu administration.
