NOTHING MUST HAPPEN TO PETER OBI, ATIKU WARNS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Federal Government against any action that could threaten the safety of opposition figures, declaring that the protection of Peter Obi is a constitutional obligation of the Nigerian state.
In a statement issued in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku also called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that all Nigerians deserve due process and equal protection under the law regardless of political affiliation.
The former vice president argued that a healthy democracy depends on the freedom of opposition leaders to express their views without intimidation or fear.
According to him, the true measure of a democratic system is not the authority wielded by those in power but the protection guaranteed to those outside government.
“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,” the statement said.
Atiku expressed concern over the Presidency’s reaction to Obi’s recent remarks, urging government officials to address criticism with facts, restraint and statesmanship rather than personal attacks.
He maintained that criticism of government policies should not be interpreted as hostility toward the state, adding that democracies are strengthened through constructive engagement rather than verbal confrontations.
The former vice president further accused the government of focusing excessively on political disputes while pressing national challenges such as insecurity, poverty, corruption and kidnapping continue to worsen.
He stressed that these issues, rather than opposition voices, constitute the real threats facing the country.
Atiku also urged the government to intensify efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren, teachers and other Nigerians still being held captive by kidnappers, arguing that such matters deserve greater attention than political disagreements.
Commenting on the continued detention of El-Rufai, he said justice must be administered fairly and transparently, warning against any perception of selective application of the law.
He called on authorities to respond openly to public concerns, insisting that trust in government can only be strengthened through accountability, transparency and adherence to constitutional principles.
Atiku’s remarks come amid growing political exchanges between the Presidency and opposition leaders following recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by Obi.
The statement also follows Obi’s recent claim during an interview that he fears he may not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election, while alleging that the current administration is targeting his business interests.
The Federal Government has repeatedly maintained that its actions are guided by the rule of law and that no individual is above the law, irrespective of political affiliation.
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