Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has issued a firm warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that nothing must happen to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
Atiku issued the warning in a statement signed through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, on Thursday.
The warning comes less than twenty four hours after Peter Obi’s recent alarm over threats to his life in an interview ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Since then, Nigerians have expressed concern over the warning and denounced the political threats to life.
In a succinct statement, Atiku pointed out that the Nigerian government’s constitutional duty to ensure the safety of all opposition leaders is a test of its democratic credentials.
“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.”
“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.
“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.
Backstory…
Peter Obi, earlier said that he may not be alive to contest the coming election, alleging that the government is frustrating his effort and targeting opposition figures.
The NDC chieftain made the remarks during an interview on With Chude, which media personality Chude Jideonwo posted on X on Wednesday.
Responding to a question on whether there was a possibility he might not be a candidate in 2027, Obi said, “Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you.
“Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so. Everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”
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