Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that nothing must happen to Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai. He recently had his say via a press statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, and Nigerians have been reacting.
Stressing that history has never been kind to governments that elevate political combat above the welfare and security of their citizens, Atiku stated that the safety of every opposition leader is a constitutional obligation of the Nigerian state and a test of its democratic credentials.
Abubakar added that the true measure of any democracy is not how comfortably those in power wield authority, but how safely those outside power can exercise their constitutional rights.
His words, “Our elders say: ‘When the drums of injustice beat for your neighbour, do not dance, for tomorrow they may beat for you.’ Every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, has a stake in defending the democratic space.
Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. Release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Bring home every abducted schoolchild, every teacher and every innocent Nigerian still languishing in the hands of kidnappers. Stop chasing political opponents and start confronting the crises that are bleeding our nation.
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.”
