Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has defended his recent remarks about Peter Obi amid reports that the former Anambra State governor is threatening a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against him.
In a post on X, Okonkwo responded to a supporter of Obi, accusing the former presidential candidate of being intolerant of criticism. He argued that public figures in a democratic society should be able to accommodate opposing views without resorting to legal action.
According to Okonkwo, both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have faced criticism from Obi’s supporters over the years, yet neither of them pursued legal action against their critics.
He further alleged that Obi had previously sued activist Deji Adeyanju and was now taking similar steps against him. Okonkwo maintained that criticism is a normal feature of democratic politics and should not be met with legal threats.
The former Labour Party chieftain also claimed that a politician’s ability to tolerate criticism is an important test of leadership, arguing that intolerance to dissent could raise concerns about how such a person might wield greater political power.
His comments come amid an escalating dispute with Obi following corruption allegations made by Okonkwo against the former presidential candidate. Obi has strongly denied the allegations through his legal representatives.
In his post, Okonkwo wrote: “Tinubu is criticised, Atiku is criticised by Obidients. None of them sued people because they recognise that we are in a democracy and people are free to express themselves. Obi has sued Deji Adeyanju, and I heard he has written his wretched letter to Kenneth Okonkwo.”
