The appointment of former Director of Defence Information, Major-General John Enenche (rtd) into the campaign team of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has continued to generate reactions.
Obi named the campaign 1,234-member campaign team on Wednesday, October 12.
The naming of the council fell a week short of the second-year anniversary of the shooting of #EndSARS protesters by Nigerian Army personnel at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The October 20, 2020, shooting was streamed on Instagram Live by one of the protesters and career disc jockey, Obianuju Udeh, professionally known as DJ Switch.
However, Enenche, who was defence spokesman at the time, claimed that the video streamed live by DJ Switch was “cropped”, “photoshopped” and “fake”.
A video of Enenche’s claim has been freshly recirculated on social media, drawing divergent reactions from supporters of Obi, who are called ‘Obidients’.
While some demanded the general’s removal from the team, some called on him to denounce his previous views to remain on the team and others outrightly backed his inclusion.
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
I am not going to make excuses for General Enenche.The OBIdient Movement is meant to usher in a New Nigeria rooted on Accountability to the Nigerian People
Nobody is perfect but I am of the opinion that he should publicly denounce his statement on End SARS to remain on that list pic.twitter.com/iHYlVCKYun
— NK£M #PeterObi2023 (@Nkemchor_) October 13, 2022
The Enenche brothers. One is a military General, the other is a General-overseer of a church. These 2 brothers have given a lot to this movement. Paul Enenche was the first pastor to invite Obi to his church, the General was the first General & top official to endorse Obi. pic.twitter.com/vWlPrBbBML
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) October 13, 2022
What do we really want in this country? Remove the bad and replace them with the ugly!
How can anybody defend General Enenche who was part of the false narrative of the deep state/military industrial complex that masked the truth of the #Lekkitollgate massacre?
— Dr Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) October 13, 2022
It is people like General Enenche who'll stay inside government and lead it on dangerous spins, lies, obfuscation, and utter falsehoods.
Defend him as you like; his name and infamy are already in history's judgment-book.
Good afternoon from the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine
— Dr Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) October 13, 2022
As one who survived the shooting at the #lekkitollgate & supported survivors at the Judicial Panel, the events on 10.20.20 shouldn't be politicized & the inclusion of Gen Enenche on the #ObiDatti PCC will do just that. We humbly call for his replacement & a retraction by the Gen.
— Akin Olaoye (@akintollgate) October 13, 2022
After seeing John Enenche, an army spokesman on the Labour Party campaign council, I now regret the way i have supported Peter Obi, and will now channel all my strength, time and money into supporting Peter Obi aggressively and ensure he Wins.
— D A N N Y 🪂 (@AjeboDanny) October 13, 2022
This is not an excuses for General Enenche.
But the #Obidient family must realize that, anyone who is on your side now is also a supporter of a New Nigeria.
2023 election is not a #Endsars revenge/get back mission but rather a mission to take power from those who don't care. pic.twitter.com/QRqrL8JnTx
— Ogagbayi Temidayo (@Ogagbayidayo) October 13, 2022
Gen Enenche was one of the first OBIdients, before most of you. He was the first person of significance to endorse Obi. Do you know the courage needed for an Army general under Buhari to endorse an opposition? General Enenche boosted our voice from the beginning. Let him be! pic.twitter.com/Lmf5qeMdw6
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) October 13, 2022
Those who say they won't vote Obi because he listed Gen Enenche in the PCC are just clowns who don't know how politics works. In a paradigm shift, you need a 'bad guy', you need a person who was on the 'other side' to be able to navigate some areas, you think we can do it alone?
— Iruefi XXL (@IruefiNG) October 13, 2022
By appointing John Enenche, an officer who claimed photos and videos of slain #EndSARS protesters were 'photoshopped', into his presidential campaign council, Peter Obi confirms what many have always said: he is 'one of them'.
1/3
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) October 13, 2022
Enenche acted as an enemy of the youth and with blithe disregard for the sanctity of human life.
He and anyone who chooses to have him on his campaign team are both enemies of the people and deserve no place near the nation's highest political office. Pure and simple.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) October 13, 2022
No one who was part of murdering #EndSARS protesters or defending their murder should be a part of a movement trying to “take back Nigeria”.
Yes, this is a test of leadership. If Peter Obi allows that retired general to remain on his PCC, he will lose my support.
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) October 13, 2022
I heard you once campaigned for and supported Buhari. Does that choice still define you now because there's no difference between you and Enenche. If you can withdraw support because of something that can be settled in house then you were never a supporter. https://t.co/E50cVsYTU1
— NK£M #PeterObi2023 (@Nkemchor_) October 13, 2022
Dear OBIdients,
Please let's cut Gen. Enenche some slack, yes we are aggrieved about Endsars, but we need to also understand how the military works, time reveals all things, we will hear from him someday soon as regards his role and whose orders he carried out.
Kenneth Doyin pic.twitter.com/RUymePL0hy
— Ede (@Sylva_bee) October 13, 2022
We have never claimed Infallibility or Omniscience…mistakes can be made.
Appointing Gen Enenche is wrong, particularly regarding the #EndSARS massacre.
I recommend his removal.
God's victory to us.#PeterObi4President2023
Cc: @PeterObi @doyinokupe @NgLabour @OselokaHObaze
— CONSIGLIORE (@iykebufo) October 13, 2022
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