‘Nothing Must Happen to Peter Obi’ — Atiku Warns Presidency

• Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Federal Government to ensure Peter Obi’s safety, calling it a constitutional duty.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has warned the Federal Government against any action that could endanger opposition leaders, insisting that the safety of Peter Obi is the constitutional responsibility of the Nigerian state.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said democracy can only thrive when opposition figures are free to exercise their constitutional rights without intimidation or fear.

“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 also called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, maintaining that every Nigerian deserves due process and equal protection under the law regardless of political affiliation.

He criticised what he described as the presidency’s response to recent comments made by Obi, arguing that governments should respond to criticism with facts and restraint rather than personal attacks.

“The presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt. When 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,” Atiku said.

The former vice president further accused the Tinubu administration of focusing more on political battles than addressing Nigeria’s pressing security and economic challenges.

According to him, the country’s real enemies are poverty, hunger, insecurity, corruption and kidnapping—not the opposition.

“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,” he stated.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rescue of abducted schoolchildren, teachers and other victims still in captivity, saying those issues deserve greater attention than political disputes.

On El-Rufai’s continued detention, Atiku insisted that justice must be guided by fairness and constitutional principles rather than political considerations.

“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,” he said.

He also called on the government to restore public confidence through transparency and accountability instead of political rhetoric.

“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,” Atiku added.

Atiku’s statement comes amid heightened political exchanges between the Presidency and opposition figures following recent criticisms of the Tinubu administration by Peter Obi, who recently claimed he feared he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The Federal Government has consistently maintained that all its actions are guided by the rule of law and that no individual is above the law.