The Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jarrett Tenebe, has openly declared his hatred for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.
Tenebe spoke during an interview in which he defended the policies of the Tinubu administration and explained his “AK-47 fire” comment.
According to him, ” How can it be a threat? A threat would be telling someone: “If you do not vote for me, I will shoot you with this AK-47.” Can I not wish death on my enemy? If you watch the video, you will see that people on social media cut out certain parts. I said clearly: “I have a wish and a prayer for our enemies.” I said I would not invoke Holy Ghost fire because it would consume the person and the person would die. Instead, I said I would wish them “AK-47 fire.” I said: “Anybody who tries to stand in our way, AK-47 fire.” Did I say I would shoot anyone with an AK-47? I did not. I was only wishing it on them. If people say that is wrong, they should also tell Christians to stop saying “Holy Ghost fire.” I used “AK-47 fire” in that same context.
“No. Why would I look for controversy? I have studied law, so I believe I should know what the law says. A senior lawyer called me to ask why I made that statement. I asked him: “Do you not wish things on people? Can you not wish someone dead?” Do traditional spiritual practitioners not say that thunder will strike someone? Between thunder and an AK-47, which is worse? Between Holy Ghost fire and AK-47 fire, which is worse? Did I say I would shoot anyone who did not vote for us? That would be a threat. I did not say that. I was praying. It is for God to answer the prayer or not. Once I pray, the decision is God’s.”
He also stated that he would spit in the faces of Obi and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to the Edo APC chairman, he would not hesitate to confront opposition figures over their criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
“If I see them, I will spit in their faces,” he said.
He particularly declared his personal hatred for Obi, accusing him of being insincere and questioning his political alliance with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is his running mate under the NDC.
According to Tenebe, “Yes. They should run a campaign of ideas, not insults. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the president of this country. You do not see Americans insulting their president the way we do here. Look at Trump. Americans do not insult their president the way Atiku and Peter Obi have insulted ours. If they come close to me, I will spit in their faces.
“That is the truth. Look at what Dino is saying about the president. If other APC members choose to keep quiet while the president is insulted, I will not. If I see Atiku, I will pretend that I want to kiss him and spit in his face. As for Obi, I hate him, and I maintain that. If I see him, I will spit in his face and bite his nose. I will pretend that I want to tell him something, then bite his ear and chew it. Take it like that. I hate him.I just hate him because of the things he has done. Did you hear me say I hate Atiku? I do not like Atiku at the moment because he is insulting the president. But I hate Peter Obi because he is not genuine. How can he want to be president with someone I consider his oppressor as his running mate? If the two of them cannot agree on what should be in a glass, how can they govern Nigeria? Peter Obi has a brewery, while Kwankwaso banned beer. If they cannot agree on what should be in a glass, how can they rule Nigeria?”
According to him, Obi and Kwankwaso held conflicting positions on certain issues. He cited their perceived differences over alcohol consumption to question their ability to govern the country together.