You can’t hold him responsible for 1966 coup – Bashir Ahmad backs Peter Obi

A senior figure in the All Progressives Congress, Bashir Ahmad, has argued that presidential candidate Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, should not be held accountable for the 1966 coup. Ahmad, who once served as the party's spokesperson, maintained that Obi was not involved in the coup and should not be blamed for the historical events simply due to his nationality or background.

This stance came after the APC member responded to an Arise TV interview with Obi. During the segment, an anchor suggested that certain individuals in the North may still harbor resentment towards the Igbo people for the 1966 coup, which resulted in the death of Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. When asked how he would address someone in Sokoto who held onto the incident against the Igbo while voting for Obi, Ahmad claimed he could not be held responsible for the 1966 coup as he was only four years old during the event.

He emphasized that individuals should not be judged for the actions of others, urging the same principle to be applied universally. "Nobody should be judged or held responsible for the wrongdoings of others," Ahmad concluded, echoing a message of forgiveness and personal accountability.