Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Federal Government to ensure the safety of Labour Party leader Peter Obi and guarantee the rights of opposition politicians, warning against actions that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic space.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the protection of opposition leaders was a constitutional obligation of the state and essential to the survival of democracy.
The former vice president also called for the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that every Nigerian deserves due process, equal treatment under the law and the presumption of innocence.
“Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. An injury to one is an injury to all,” Atiku said.
“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.”
His comments come amid rising political tensions between the Presidency and opposition figures following recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Atiku expressed concern over what he described as hostile reactions from government officials to Obi’s remarks, insisting that democratic governance requires tolerance of dissenting views.
“The presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt,” he stated.
“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.”
He maintained that criticism of government policies should not be interpreted as hostility towards the state, adding that democracies are strengthened through constructive engagement rather than verbal attacks.
“A government that answers every criticism with abuse projects insecurity, not confidence,” he added.
The ADC presidential candidate accused the government of devoting excessive attention to political battles while critical national issues such as insecurity, poverty and corruption continue to worsen.
According to him, the real enemies confronting the country are hunger, economic hardship, kidnapping and violent crime.
“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,” Atiku said.
He urged authorities to focus on securing the release of Nigerians still being held by kidnappers and criminal groups across the country.
“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 issue of El-Rufai, Atiku argued that justice must be administered fairly and without any perception of 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 stated.
The former vice president further called on the government to embrace transparency and accountability when responding to issues raised by citizens and political opponents.
“Public confidence is not restored through insults or propaganda. It is restored through openness, accountability and the courage to answer legitimate questions,” he said.
Atiku warned that shrinking democratic freedoms and intolerance of opposing views could have long-term consequences for the country, stressing that history would judge governments by their commitment to justice, citizen welfare and democratic values.
“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,” he said.
The statement followed Obi’s recent interview in which he suggested he might not live to contest the 2027 presidential election and alleged that some actions of the current administration were targeted at his business interests.
The Federal Government has consistently maintained that all its actions are guided by the rule of law and has repeatedly insisted that no citizen, regardless of status or political affiliation, is above the law.