Obi responds to critics over Heathrow saga saying he has never broken the laws of any country

FORMER Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has  hit back at critics who have been castigating him after he was recently detained and questioned in the UK saying he never violated any of the country's laws.

Earlier this month, Governor Obi was detained and harassed by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport in the UK who were investigating impersonation allegations. Apparently, he was detained and questioned for a duplication offence amid suggestions that someone must have been impersonating the former Anambra State governor in London.

Governor Obi arrived at Heathrow Airport in London on Good Friday April 7 and joined the queue for the necessary protocols when he was accosted by immigration official who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside. Labour Party spokesman Diran Onifade, said he was questioned for a long time and it was very strange given that Governor Obi had lived for over a decade in the UK.

He added that the former Anambra State governor was detained and questioned for a duplication offence and suggested that someone must have been impersonating him in London. It is not yet clear if Governor Obi's travails had anything to do with the elections or were at the behest of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who might have furnished the UK authorities with false information about him.

Reacting to the controversy, Governor Obi said he has never violated any law, adding that he has lived all his life in the most law-abiding manner and will never knowingly break any law. He added that even though humans are bound to make mistakes, he will never knowingly break any law and he is not afraid of the lies and propaganda against his person.

Governor Obi added: “There may be more mudslinging from those who are against the emergence of the new Nigeria but, I would never be deterred by the obstacles along the way to victory. I have always lived my life in the most law-abiding manner.

“Sometimes as humans, we make mistakes but, I will never knowingly break any law. I am therefore not afraid of the lies and propaganda against my person. They are part of the journey to a new Nigeria.”

On March 2, Governor Obi said he would challenge the outcome of Nigeria’s recent presidential elections after official results awarded victory to the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the APC. Governor Obo has been returned in third place in the elections, just behind former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.