Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government, declaring that nothing must happen to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
The warning was delivered on Thursday, July 9 through an official statement released by Atiku’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
The intervention follows a recent public alarm raised by Peter Obi during an interview, where he disclosed receiving active threats to his life ahead of the 2027 presidential election cycle.
Obi’s disclosure has sparked widespread concern, drawing sharp condemnations from various quarters over the weaponization of personal safety in political contests.
In his statement, Atiku emphasized that safeguarding opposition figures is a fundamental constitutional duty of the state and a core measure of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles.
“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.”
Atiku criticized the government’s approach to dissent, urging the presidency to respond to political challenges with statesmanship rather than hostility.
He noted that the primary obligation of an elected leadership when faced with public concern is to engage constructively rather than resort to defensive rhetoric.
“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 further argued that administrative focus has been severely misplaced, stressing that political rivals are not the true threats facing the federation.
He urged the Tinubu administration to redirect its energy away from suppressing critics and toward addressing systemic issues affecting the populace.
“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.
