NIGERIA: The Peter Obi Media Office has criticised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, for engaging in political exchanges over Peter Obi’s record as former governor of Anambra State amid investigations into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., on Monday, the media office described Alake’s comments against Obi as an attempt to divert attention from questions surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspects, who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The development follows Alake’s recent remarks, made in his capacity as a spokesperson for the APC presidential campaign, in which he challenged Obi over his record in Anambra State and said the former governor had nowhere to hide regarding his administration’s performance.
The Peter Obi Media Office said it was ironic that a serving minister overseeing the solid minerals sector was focusing on political attacks while questions remained unanswered over the deaths in Niger State.
“For us in Peter Obi Media, there is a tragic irony in watching high-ranking public officials prioritise political posturing over executive accountability,” the statement said.
The media office asked the authorities to establish who authorised the operation that led to the arrests, what safeguards were put in place for the detainees, who failed in their responsibilities and who would ultimately be held accountable for the deaths.
It said the deaths should not be treated merely as statistics, arguing that the victims were Nigerians whose lives had been lost in circumstances that required a transparent investigation.
“Before offering public lectures on state-level administrative histories or political credentials, federal custodians of failed essential sectors must first account for their primary responsibilities,” the statement added.
The group also called for stronger action against illegal and unregulated mining operations, saying young Nigerians seeking livelihoods should not be exposed to unsafe mining environments.
“Ending unchecked illegal operations and curbing informal and unregulated extraction that endangers vulnerable youth seeking a livelihood is the Minister’s responsibility,” it said.
The Federal Government has already deployed a high-powered team to Niger State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners. Alake said the investigation was intended to establish the facts of the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation, with reports indicating that the suspects had been arrested during anti-illegal-mining operations in Niger State before they were found dead in custody.
The Peter Obi Media Office nevertheless maintained that the incident warranted greater attention from the minister and other relevant authorities than political exchanges over Obi’s record in Anambra State.
