Presidency Warns Peter Obi Over 'Democracy Has Collapsed' Comment: "Watch What You Say"
- President Bola Tinubu's administration has warned the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, to be careful of what he says
- The presidency issued the warning after Obi's comment at the colloquium hosted in honour of Emeka Ihedioha, where he claimed Nigeria's democracy had collapsed
- Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to the president, issued the warning while reacting to Obi's claim that Nigeria's democracy collapsed because of its current leaders
The presidency has replied to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, over his comment that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu's special adviser on information and strategy, gave a formal response while reacting to the video of Obi condemning Nigeria's leaders.
Peter Obi: Democracy has collapsed in Nigeria
In the video, the Labour Party presidential candidate said Nigeria's democracy has collapsed because of the kind of leaders Nigeria currently has.
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Obi made the comment at the colloquium held to celebrate the 60th birthday of the former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha in Abuja on Monday, March 24.
The former governor of Anambra recalled that when he was impeached as governor, he was able to win in court and installed through the court while lamenting that such a situation did not exist in today's Nigeria's democracy.
Obi had challenged the victory of President Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election with the Supreme Court but his case before the apex judiciary was thrown out because of lack of evidence.
Onanuga, in his reaction to Obi's comment, cautioned the former presidential candidate to be cautious with his statement, adding that if democracy had truly collapsed, he would not have the freedom to speak in the public domain.
Why democracy still exists in Nigeria - presidency
The presidential aide wondered how a democracy that had strengthened over the past 26 years could be considered to have collapsed, as the opposition candidate had stated outright.
Onanuga explained that if Nigeria currently existed under 'a regime antithetical to democratic principles', as claimed by Obi, the former presidential candidate would not have the avenue to comment as he did at Ihedioha's colloquium would not have been possible.
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Tinubu's aide then warned Obi to be cautious of his statement and said:
"I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery."
Onanuga's full statement on Obi's democracy criticism is included below:
Presidency’s threats belong in the gutters – Labour Party
Lagos state Labour Party spokesperson, Hon. Ife Salako, has strongly criticised the presidency’s warning to Peter Obi over his recent comments on Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that the opposition will not be silenced.
“Let me state categorically here that the APC-led government should know by now that they cannot silence the opposition,” Salako told Legit.ng.
He emphasised that Peter Obi, as the leading opposition figure in Nigeria, remains undeterred by threats from the presidency.
“Mr. Peter Obi, who is the leading opposition in Nigeria today, is the least of whom they should attempt to threaten over national issues that are based on facts," the politician added.
Dismissing the warning issued by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Salako declared:
“The presidency can take their threats to the gutters. Mr. Peter Obi will continue to speak to national issues, play his role as an opposition, and continue to fight for a new Nigeria that we all desire.”
Presidency reacts to coalition plot against Tinubu
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Tinibu was unshaken by the coalition reportedly being formed by opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
Onanuga made this statement while reacting to the announcement of the coalition at a press conference chaired by Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President.
According to the presidency's spokesperson, President Tinubu was more focused on leading at the moment and described the alliance as a group of sore losers.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from Lagos state Labour Party spokesperson for this report.
