The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has distanced himself from the controversial decision by one of his support groups to print his campaign photos on Muslim prayer mats, describing it as misguided.
Obi reacted following a mild controversy on the social media since the campaign stunt pictures went viral. While many, especially the Muslim faithfuls deemed it as mocking their faith, others insisted that no insult was intended.
Former presidential aide to ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, described it as a sad development. Omokri, who supports the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, wrote: โThis is why I say Christians should compulsorily study IRK (Islamic Religious Knowledge) and Muslims should do same with CRK (Christian Religious Knowledge).
I have read the Quran. This is wrong. Islam does not tolerate images of humans or animals in mosques.
โTinubu tried it in Mecca and the Saudis arrested his campaigners!. Islam does not tolerate images of humans in mosques or on prayer mats. How much more an image of a politician. This is sad. And you cannot even counsel these people.
They feel they know more than those counselling them. You talk one, they talk one hundred. Anyway, we are watchingโ, Omokri claimed.
However, reacting to the development in a statement via his twitter account on Friday, Obi said he respects every religion and would never sanction the inclusion of his picture on prayer mats.
Obi blamed some overzealous supporters for the photo.
He also cautioned against acts that could offend the sensibilities of others. Obi, who said he would never mock any faith, ethnic group, or gender, said: โThe inclusion of my picture on the praying mat by a support group was misguided, even with the best of intentions. It didnโt emanate from my campaign team.
I have deep respect for the Muslim faith and indeed, for every other religion.โ
โWe will never mock any faith, ethnicity or gender. We are one Nigeria. -PO.โ
