Atiku Warns Tinubu: ‘Nothing Must Happen to Peter Obi’
Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of orchestrating a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against him, warning that the government would be held responsible if any harm befalls him or members of his team.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Office in Abuja, which claimed that recent actions by government institutions amounted to a deliberate effort to undermine Obi’s political activities, personal freedom and business interests.
The statement was issued in response to what the media office described as the Presidency’s “tenuous and uncultured” reaction to Obi’s recent expression of concern over his personal safety and alleged harassment.
According to the media office, rather than addressing the issues raised by the former Anambra State governor, the Presidency dismissed his concerns, prompting the need for a renewed public warning.
“We raise this alarm not from fear, but as a duty to safeguard our democracy from descending into authoritarianism,” the statement said.
The media office alleged that Obi had been subjected to “engineered bureaucratic obstacles, invasive surveillance and hostility from state forces,” adding that businesses and investments linked to him had also come under pressure.
It argued that the developments had created the perception of a coordinated effort to weaken Obi’s legitimate political and business activities, warning that such actions could erode investor confidence and damage Nigeria’s democratic reputation.
The statement further claimed that members of Obi’s media team had witnessed increasing hostility towards the former presidential candidate and his supporters during political engagements across the country.
Atiku Warns Against Intimidation of Opposition
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has warned President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government that nothing must happen to Peter Obi.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the protection of opposition leaders as a constitutional obligation and a key test of Nigeria’s 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,” Atiku said.
He urged the Presidency to respond to concerns raised by opposition figures 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 stated.
Atiku also maintained that opposition parties should not be viewed as enemies of the state, insisting that Nigeria’s greatest challenges remain poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption and kidnapping.
“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 added.
The Federal Government had not officially responded to the latest statements by Obi’s media office and Atiku at the time of filing this report.
