‘Seriously Disturbing And Concerning’ – NDC, PDP, Obidients Warn FG Over Peter Obi’s Safety

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Obidient Movement Worldwide and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused the Federal Government of targeting opposition figures.

They warned that it would be held responsible if anything happened to former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.

The warning followed Obi’s claim that he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election because of alleged frustration and intimidation by the government.

Naija News reports that Obi, during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, alleged that the Federal Government had been frustrating his activities and those of other opposition figures.

The former governor said he might not even be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.

“Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you,” Obi said.

“Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it, deliberately so, everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”

Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said the party was disturbed by Obi’s comments.

He accused the Federal Government of failing to provide adequate security for the NDC presidential candidate.

He said Obi, as a major presidential contender, deserved adequate security protection.

Abdulsalam said, “I read the statement credited to His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi, our presidential candidate earlier today (Wednesday). And I must say that I was seriously disturbed. It was very concerning.

“Again, I must say the government of the day under President Bola Tinubu is not doing very well in terms of caring to provide security for him. We, as a party, believe that somebody in the calibre of Mr. Peter Obi, a two-time presidential candidate, who did very well, garnered a lot of votes from all the nooks and crannies of this country should have been treated better than the way the federal government is currently treating him.

“It is even looking like the establishment is actually not interested in his security. If you see Obi, it is not that he has decided to keep modest security around him. He has been denied. They have systematically ensured that he does not get adequate security protection.

“And as a party, we will hold the Federal Government responsible if anything happens to him because it is not about the state actors. There are non-state actors also who do not like him and may want to attempt something, either to intimidate, do bodily harm, or even attempt to take out his life as he has alleged. Nothing is impossible.”

He added, “We were all witnesses to what happened to former President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was attacked in Kaduna during the presidential campaign some time ago. Credit must be given to former President Goodluck Jonathan because we remember clearly that he provided him not just enough security officers from the DSS, army, and police, but also ensured that he gave him a bulletproof jeep.

“So, somebody in the standing of Peter Obi ought to have been treated better the way Jonathan treated Buhari. So, he is here today, he might not be there tomorrow. Any of his close relatives might also be vying for presidency tomorrow. How does he expect to be treated when he is treating another leader in this manner, simply because he has power?

“I think it’s a matter that, we as a party, are not happy about because the attempt on his life is very clear. When he went to Edo State, thugs were sent to attack him and they rained bullets on his vehicles. It was very obvious.

“Today, he is not being given adequate security. There is no special security protection for him, who is a main challenger going for a presidential contest. It is unheard of and unprecedented in the annals of the political history of Nigeria.

“So, as a party, we call on Mr. President to ensure that he provides adequate security to our presidential candidate, his running mate and all the candidates who are contesting. This is because under the Nigerian Constitution, they are entitled to it, especially at times like this, when they become very vulnerable.”

On his part, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, said Obi’s statement reflected the challenges facing him and his supporters.

He alleged that Obi had been blocked from speaking at several universities, including institutions in Bauchi, Zaria, Calabar and Ife.

Tanko said the development showed the level of frustration being faced by Obi in his effort to engage young Nigerians.

He said: “Peter Obi is just trying to tell you the level of decay in our system and also being futuristic on how dangerously inclined this government can go, not only himself, but all of us that are following him. That is as bad as it can get.

“I remember granting an interview yesterday (Tuesday) when somebody called to tell me that we should all be careful. I don’t know where that is coming from in a democratic setting. So, if His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, is giving a synopsis of some of the things he is facing as an individual, you will find it difficult that virtually almost all of us are in danger.

“We are more or less like an endangered species in the quest for good life for Nigerians. That is the situation as we find ourselves. So, it is good that he has raised it in public domain so people will know the level of challenge and frustration that he is facing.

“At the moment, he has travelled and presently in America for a programme. On several occasions, he has been frustrated within Nigeria. For instance, we went to Bauchi where he was supposed to deliver a lecture at the university, they stopped him. Obi was supposed to deliver a lecture in Ahmadu Bello University, he was stopped. He was supposed to deliver another lecture at the University of Calabar, they stopped him again.

“He was supposed to also deliver a lecture in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife. I was strictly involved in all of this. That one too was stopped. So you can see the level of frustration? He was trying to engage the Nigerian students. But these people always devise a means to stop him using all the mechanisms of the schools to prevent him from delivering those lectures to the youths.

“So, His Excellency is going through a lot. We are only taking some of the synopsis of some of the things that he is going through. When he mentioned it, he is just trying to tell you the level at which these people can go. That is the truth.”

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, accused the ruling APC of targeting opposition figures.

He claimed that opposition leaders were being pressured politically, socially and economically.

He added that Nigerians must continue to demand transparency and defend multi-party democracy.

Ememobong told The PUNCH, “It started with the PDP. When we had governors and the governors had legitimate reasons to see the President, the President wouldn’t see them. Have you heard that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has visited Abuja more than twice and waited to see the President but has not been able to see him.

“So, our leaders are being targeted. Opposition figures are being targeted everywhere in this country economically, socially, and I don’t even know, maybe spiritually too. So, the opposition is the target of the ruling party, and it’s simply a sign of being paranoid about the situation because they don’t know that, irrespective of how much they push, Nigerians would align with the opposition. Nigerians are opposed to them.

“So, any other person who is standing on the side of Nigerians, who has the capacity to be a leader in the opposition or the propensity to benefit or become a beneficiary of that anger, is the target of the ruling party.This administration has been administered as a criminal enterprise.

“Nigerians must continue to be resolute in their demand for transparency and in their demand for multi-party democracy.”