Stop using state institutions against Obi, media office slams Presidency
The Peter Obi Media Office has accused the Federal Government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and harassment against the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following the Presidency’s response to his recent concerns about his safety and business interests.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office described the Presidency’s reaction to Obi’s comments as “tenuous” and “uncultured,” insisting that it failed to address the substance of the concerns raised by the former Anambra State governor.
“The Peter Obi Media Office has carefully studied the response of the Presidency to Peter Obi’s justifiable alarm on his life and businesses and takes serious exception to the tenuous and uncultured words used in the response,” the statement said.
According to the media office, the Presidency’s response has made it necessary to alert Nigerians and the international community to what it described as an escalating campaign of intimidation against Obi.
“The Presidency’s insubstantial response is compelling the Peter Obi Media Office to urgently inform the Nigerian public and the international community of a disturbing and escalating campaign against Mr Peter Obi, marked by intimidation and threats.
“We raise this alarm not from fear, but as a duty to safeguard our democracy from descending into authoritarianism.”
The statement alleged that recent government actions had gone beyond ordinary political disagreements and now amounted to efforts aimed at weakening Obi’s resolve and limiting his political activities.
“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,” the statement said.
The media office also claimed that businesses and investments linked to Obi had come under pressure, warning that such developments could discourage investors.
“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,” the media office said.
It further alleged that Obi and his supporters had been subjected to increasing hostility during political engagements across the country.
“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,” the media office said.
The statement also referenced alleged actions involving some of Obi’s supporters and associates.
“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. His 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,” the statement said.
The media office argued that democratic governance requires tolerance for dissent rather than intimidation of opposition voices.
“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,” the statement said.
It maintained that Obi’s concerns about his safety should be taken seriously.
“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,” said the media office.
The statement described Obi as a symbol of hope for many Nigerians seeking better governance.
“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.”
It added, “We will not stand by while those who have failed Nigeria misuse state power against the single voice that speaks truth to power.”
The media office called on the Federal Government to end what it described as intimidation against the former governor.
“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,” the statement said.
It also warned that attempts to intimidate Obi would not succeed.
“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,” said the media office.
The statement urged the government to focus on tackling insecurity and economic hardship.
