Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned the Federal Government against any action that could put opposition leaders at risk, saying the state has a constitutional duty to protect every citizen, including political opponents. Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, made the call on Thursday while demanding protection for Peter Obi and the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigeria’s democracy depends on allowing opposition figures to freely express their views without fear of intimidation. He said the strength of a democratic system is reflected not only in how those in power exercise authority but also in how those outside government are treated.
“Nothing must happen to Peter Obi, an injury to one is an injury to all,” Atiku said, warning that threats against one opposition figure could discourage others from participating fully in democratic processes. His comments followed Obi’s recent remarks that he might not survive until the 2027 election and his allegation that the Tinubu administration had targeted his business interests.
Atiku criticized the government’s response to Obi’s comments, saying public officials should address criticism with facts and restraint rather than personal attacks. He argued that political disagreements are part of democracy and should not be viewed as hostility toward the country. He also accused the administration of spending too much energy on political disputes while failing to give enough attention to insecurity, economic hardship and other challenges facing Nigerians.
The former vice president urged the government to focus on rescuing Nigerians still held captive by criminal groups and improving the country’s security situation. He identified poverty, hunger, corruption, kidnapping and insecurity as the major threats confronting Nigeria, saying authorities should apply the same urgency to these issues as they do to political communication.
On El-Rufai’s detention, Atiku said legal processes must be guided by fairness and constitutional principles rather than political considerations. He maintained that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, deserves due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
The Federal Government has repeatedly maintained that its actions are based on the rule of law and that no individual is above accountability. Atiku, however, urged the administration to respond to public concerns with transparency and strengthen democratic institutions, warning that history would judge governments by how well they protected citizens, upheld justice and preserved democratic freedoms rather than by how they treated political opponents.
