The Peter Obi Media Office has strongly criticized the Presidency’s response to concerns raised by NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi about threats to his life and businesses, describing the official reply as “tenuous” and “uncultured.”
In a press statement signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr., the media office said it had carefully reviewed the Presidency’s answer and found it insubstantial.
The statement said the weak response has prompted the office to alert Nigerians and the international community about what it calls a growing campaign of intimidation and threats targeting Mr. Obi.
“We raise this alarm not from fear, but as a duty to safeguard our democracy from descending into authoritarianism,” the statement added.
The media office urged authorities to address the alleged harassment and called for greater protection for Mr. Obi and other public figures. It framed the warning as part of an effort to prevent erosion of democratic norms.
Mr Peter Obi had earlier sounded a grave warning about threats to his life ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking on a podcast with Chude Jideonwo, the former Anambra State governor said he faces persistent attacks on “everything that had to do with him,” and warned that he might not be alive to contest the next presidential race.
The Presidency in responding, describes the claims as lacking substance, saying they are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from, what it describes as Obi’s “credibility deficit and the problems faced by his SPV and his adopted political association, the NDC.”
However, part of the statement by the Obi Media Office reads:
“Recent actions by the government, which are underscored by their flimsy reaction to Obi's interview, have crossed from typical political friction to a concerted effort aimed at undermining Mr Obi’s resolve, restricting his freedom, and thwarting his advocacy for a reformed Nigeria.
“With engineered bureaucratic obstacles, invasive surveillance, and hostility from state forces, the government’s interference is stark.
“Equally troubling is the pattern of actions directed at businesses and investments associated with Mr Peter Obi. Whether by coincidence or design, these developments have created the perception of a calculated attempt to undermine his legitimate personal and business interests.
“Such perceptions are corrosive to investor confidence and have no place in a constitutional democracy.
“Obi's Media team have been moving around with him across the country and can attest to the harassment being meted out to him and to his supporters. There has been a noticeable and increasingly hostile political environment around Obi.
“For instance, some security agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC and DSS, have had issues with Obi's supporters. We recall the attack on Obi at the home of the former Governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, and the case of Justice Crack, a prominent civil society activist widely known for supporting Obi.
“Crack‘s abduction in Abuja under circumstances that generated widespread public concern, followed by his eventual arraignment on charges many considered questionable. It took sustained public pressure from patriotic Nigerians before his whereabouts became publicly known.
”Democracy does not require citizens to agree with those in power. It requires governments to tolerate dissent without weaponising state institutions, resorting to intimidation, or attempting to silence opposition voices.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, political intolerance has increasingly become a defining feature of governance.
“Mr Peter Obi’s concerns regarding his personal safety and the increasingly hostile political climate should not be dismissed with childish insults. The foremost responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. That constitutional obligation extends to every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, and certainly includes the country’s foremost opposition leader.
“Peter Obi supporters want to make it clear that he is not just a political figure but a leader who embodies the hopes of countless Nigerians yearning for good governance and prosperity. Therefore, any attempts to silence or harm him are attacks on the Nigerian people.
“We will not stand by while those who have failed Nigeria misuse state power against the single voice that speaks truth to power.”
“We demand an immediate halt to hostilities against Obi and an end to the obstruction and intimidation he faces. The federal government will be held accountable for any harm that befalls Mr Obi or his associates.
“If the goal is to silence him, know that you cannot intimidate a man whose strength comes from the collective will of a nation longing for change.
“Using police state tactics will neither alleviate our economic struggles nor secure our nation. We urge the government to redirect its efforts toward addressing the rampant insecurity and hunger afflicting Nigeria rather than fixating on the movements of a man dedicated to national progress.
“A word is enough for the wise.”
No immediate comment was available from the Presidency beyond the earlier response that the media office criticized.
The situation remains tense as observers watch for further developments and any official steps to investigate the claims.
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