Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government that nothing must happen to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Atiku’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
The statement follows concerns raised by Obi during a recent interview in which he alleged that he had received threats to his life ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi’s disclosure has sparked widespread concern and drawn reactions from various quarters, with many condemning threats and intimidation in the country’s political space.
In the statement, Atiku said protecting opposition figures is a constitutional responsibility of the government and a key test of Nigeria’s commitment to democracy.
“Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. An injury to one is an injury to all. When one opposition leader is intimidated, every opposition voice is diminished. When one citizen begins to fear because of his political beliefs, democracy itself becomes the casualty,” he said.
The former vice president also criticised the government’s response to dissent, urging the presidency to engage critics with statesmanship rather than hostility.
“The Presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt. When a citizen, particularly an opposition figure, voices concerns about the state of the nation or his personal safety, the first duty of government is to reassure through statesmanship, facts and responsible conduct, not through insults.
“Democracies are strengthened by reasoned engagement, not by invective. A government that answers every criticism with abuse projects insecurity, not confidence,” he added.
Atiku further argued that the administration’s priorities were misplaced, insisting that political opponents are not the country’s biggest challenge.
“The opposition is not the enemy of Nigeria. Poverty is the enemy. Hunger is the enemy. Insecurity is the enemy. Corruption is the enemy. Kidnapping is the enemy. The daily bloodletting across our communities is the enemy.
“A government that devotes more energy to attacking its critics than confronting these existential challenges has confused political survival with the purpose of governance,” he stated.
