By Mercy Aikoye
Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress Caucus in the House of Representatives, has faulted comments by Senator Adams Oshiomhole questioning the security record of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.
Ogene described Oshiomhole’s remarks as “brazen falsehoods” and a “revisionist attempt to rewrite history.”
Speaking during a recent podcast, Oshiomhole had argued that Obi’s security record in Anambra State was poor and suggested that the former governor lacked the capacity to address Nigeria’s security challenges. He also claimed that his own record as governor of Edo State surpassed Obi’s.
Reacting in a statement, Ogene dismissed the claims, insisting that Obi’s security achievements remain part of the public record.
“Senator Oshiomhole’s revisionist attempt to rewrite history is both laughable and insulting to Nigerians who know the facts,” he said.
Ogene accused the former Edo governor of deliberately distorting facts in a bid to discredit Obi, alleging that Oshiomhole had joined what he described as “presidential attack dogs” targeting the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
He also challenged Oshiomhole’s references to the activities of the Bakassi Boys, noting that the vigilante group operated during the administration of the late Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju and not under Obi.
According to him, Oshiomhole also ignored the three-year tenure of former Governor Chris Ngige before Obi assumed office in 2006.
On the demolition of kidnappers’ hideouts, Ogene maintained that the policy was initiated and implemented during Obi’s administration, contrary to claims that it began under former Governor Willie Obiano.
He further credited Obi with laying the foundation for community-based policing in Anambra through the recruitment, training and equipping of security personnel across the state’s 177 communities.
“It is uncharitable for Senator Oshiomhole to begin now to promote a contrary narrative,” Ogene stated.
The lawmaker also cited comments by former Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Philemon Leha, who reportedly praised Obi’s support for security agencies while in office.
“Security was on his priority list, and he always offered us logistics and other support on a scale I had not witnessed elsewhere,” Leha was quoted as saying.
Ogene argued that the sustained criticism of Obi by political opponents was evidence of his growing relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These coordinated attacks point to only one thing: Obi is the real issue in the conversation for the 2027 general elections,” he said, adding that no smear campaign could deny the former governor his constitutional right to contest for public office.
