Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has responded to claims made by his former ally and Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, that his followers are street urchins.

Okonkwo recently made the claim, describing Obi as a leader who cannot defend the truth or the people working for him.

This was as he lamented the silent nature of Obi towards lies told in his name by his followers.

He said, "How is it that people are lying with Peter Obi's name, and Peter Obi would hear such a thing publicly and would not react to it and would not call them to order publicly? You can never use me, Kenneth Okonkwo, to lie against Peter Obi, no matter the situation, because I detest lies. If it is not true, I will come out publicly to debunk it. Why has Peter Obi not debunked such useless lies that somebody is lying with his name? It shows a leader who can not even defend the truth or defend people who have even worked for him.

"These are the kind of problems Peter Obi has, attracting even street urchins, classless street urchins who are inbred, ill-bred. Those are the kind of followers he's attracting now."

Reacting, lamented that Nigeria has degenerated to the state where citizens now look down on fellow citizens in a degrading manner.

He said, "Humanity is paramount in my politics, no street urchins.

"Lately, I have heard a few people say that those who follow Peter Obi are low-class Nigerians, and some have even gone as far as calling them 'street urchins' and people of no value. It is deeply unfortunate that in today’s Nigeria, citizens now look down on fellow citizens in such a degrading manner.

"I have never and will never look down on anyone, except to lift them up. After all, we can only rise by lifting others. My involvement in politics has never been about associating with the so-called high and mighty, but about standing with the ordinary Nigerians whose voices have been silenced and whose resources have been stolen by the same “big names” who now parade themselves with all sorts of titles and names.

"No Nigerian is of no value. No Nigerian is a street urchin. It speaks volumes about the state of our nation that everyday Nigerians are now battered by poverty and hardship, to the point their leaders refer to them as of no value, and urchins.

"Every Nigerian deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. That is why I will continue to do my part to ensure that the ordinary Nigerians enjoy a better life, one built on access to education, quality healthcare, and genuine efforts to lift them out of poverty.

"True leadership is not about mocking the weak; it is about lifting them up."

ASA