Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Federal Government against any action that could endanger opposition leaders, insisting that the safety of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigerian state.
Atiku also called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, maintaining that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, is entitled to due process and equal protection under the law.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said democracy can only flourish when opposition figures are free to exercise their constitutional rights without fear or intimidation.
He argued that the true strength of any democracy should be measured by how well it protects those outside government.
“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 expressed concern over what he described as the Presidency’s response to Obi’s recent remarks, urging the government to address criticisms with restraint and facts rather than personal attacks.
According to him, criticism from opposition figures should not be viewed as hostility against the state.
“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 further accused the government of devoting more attention to political battles than addressing the country’s security and economic challenges.
He maintained that poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption and kidnapping remain Nigeria’s greatest challenges.
“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,” Atiku stated.
He urged the Federal Government to focus on securing the release of Nigerians still being held captive by kidnappers.
“There are schoolchildren and teachers still waiting to be reunited with their families. There are countless innocent Nigerians languishing in the camps of kidnappers. These are the emergencies that deserve the full machinery of government—not endless political sparring with opposition figures,” he said.
On the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Atiku insisted that justice must be administered fairly and without political bias.
“The continued detention of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has generated widespread public concern. Every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court. Justice must never create the appearance of selective application,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate also challenged the Federal Government to respond to public concerns with transparency instead of engaging in political distractions.
“Public confidence is not restored through insults or propaganda. It is restored through openness, accountability and the courage to answer legitimate questions. Governments earn trust by confronting controversy with facts, strengthening institutions and demonstrating that no one is above scrutiny,” he added.
Warning against what he described as the shrinking of Nigeria’s democratic space, Atiku said history would judge governments by how they protected citizens, upheld justice and defended democratic institutions.
“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. History will not remember how fiercely a government fought its critics. It will remember whether it protected its citizens, upheld justice, rescued the vulnerable and preserved the democracy entrusted to its care,” the statement concluded.
Atiku’s statement comes amid heightened exchanges between the Presidency and opposition figures following recent criticisms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu by Peter Obi.
It also follows Obi’s recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, in which he claimed he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election and alleged that the current administration was targeting his business interests.
The Federal Government has consistently maintained that its actions are guided by the rule of law, insisting that no individual is above the law, regardless of political affiliation.
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