Town hall meeting: Be calm like Okowa next time, Dino Melaye taunts Obi

Dino Melaye, former senator representing Kogi west, has demanded an apology from Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

Melaye was reacting to a recent remark made by Obi.

At a town hall meeting organised by Arise TV for presidential candidates on Sunday, Obi had cautioned Melaye, saying the PDP presidential campaign spokesperson always calls him out.

Obi made the statement after Melaye was said to have referred to an unruly audience member as “Obi people”.

Responding, Obi said: “Stop that Dino. Why are you always calling me? I won’t take that. This man is from the ANPP. Why are you calling him Obi people?”

In a video posted on his Twitter handle on Monday, Melaye said Obi was not provoked to display “unpresidential characteristics”.

The former senator asked Obi to “be as calm” as Okowa when he attends a presidential debate.

“He was not provoked. I was seated far opposite the top seat where they were sitting. I didn’t mention his name. And I was really surprised to see that type of outburst from a presidential candidate. Is that the type of president he is going to make? Just taking on people and showing unpresidential characteristics,” Melaye said.

“I didn’t do anything. So, that outburst is unwarranted, very unpresidential, and unacceptable of a leader.

“A leader must be mature. One who wants to govern this country must be accommodating, must have a lot of patience, and must have perseverance. These are basic characteristics of leadership anywhere in the world.

“You want to be president of Nigeria and you are reacting in such a manner in public? This one will slap ADC for office as president. So, I want to clear the air. There was nothing. I didn’t do anything to him.

“He was so provoked and so carried away by the performance of governor Okowa that he was saying that somebody outside is from ANPP. Does that make any sense. Is there any party like the ANPP in Nigeria today?

“Next time, when you want to go for a debate, be as calm as governor Okowa. But that was very unpresidential and I deserve a serious apology.”