The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, Senator Dino Melaye, on Monday said that he “did not do anything to” Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
Bellnewsonline.com reports that Obi got angry on Sunday night and lashed out at Melaye during the presidential town hall session organised by Arise TV in Abuja.
Trouble started after Melaye called an attendee of the meeting ‘Obi people.’
On hearing the words of the former lawmaker, Peter Obi snapped: “Stop that Dino. Why are you always calling me? I won’t take that. This man is from ANPP (apparently wanted to say NNPP). Why are you calling him Obi people?”
Reacting to the incident which trended on Sunday night, Melaye explained in a video that Obi was annoyed because Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP, overshadowed him at the debate.
“He was not provoked, I was seating [sic] far opposite the top seat where they were sitting. I didn’t mention his name. And I was really surprised to see that type of outburst from a presidential candidate. Is that the type of president he is going to make? Just taking on people and showing unpresidential characteristics?
“I didn’t do anything. So that outburst is unwarranted, very unpresidential, unacceptable of a leader.
“A leader must be matured. One who wants to govern this country must be accommodating, must have a lot of patience, must have perseverance. These are basic characteristics of leadership anywhere in the world.
“You want to be president of Nigeria and you are reacting in such a manner in public? This one will slap ADC for office [sic] as president. So I want to clear the air, there was nothing, I didn’t do anything to him,” he said.
Melaye went on to say Obi was “so provoked” and carried away by the performance of Governor Okowa, adding that he deserves “a serious apology” from the former Anambra State governor.