Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that nothing must happen to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), following the former Anambra State governor's claims that his life is under threat.

Atiku's warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.

The statement comes after Obi, in a recent interview ahead of the 2027 presidential election, expressed fears for his safety, alleging that the current administration was doing everything possible to frustrate him and his businesses.

Reacting to the development, Atiku said the safety of opposition leaders is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigerian government and a key measure of the country's democratic maturity.

"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 statement read.

Atiku also urged the Presidency to respond to concerns raised by opposition figures with restraint and statesmanship rather than insults.

"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 said.

The former vice president stressed that the opposition should not be treated as an enemy of the state, arguing that the country's real challenges lie elsewhere.

"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 bloodshed 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 true purpose of governance," he stated.

Nothing Must Happen to Peter Obi – Atiku Warns Tinubu

Comments (0)