By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to guarantee the safety of opposition figures, particularly Peter Obi, while urging the Federal Government to ensure due process in the case involving former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the strength of any democracy is measured by its ability to protect the rights and safety of both those in government and those in opposition.
He declared that nothing should happen to Obi, insisting that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, deserves constitutional protection.
According to Atiku, intimidation of opposition leaders weakens democratic institutions and undermines citizens’ confidence in the political process.
“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,” he stated.
His remarks followed recent comments by Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, who expressed fears that he might not be alive to contest the poll.
Atiku also criticised what he described as the Presidency’s response to Obi’s concerns, saying government officials should address such issues with restraint and statesmanship rather than personal attacks.
He argued that democratic leadership requires responsible engagement with critics and warned that responding to dissent with insults could further heighten political tension.
The former vice president urged the Federal Government to focus more on addressing the country’s pressing challenges, including insecurity, poverty, hunger, corruption and kidnapping, rather than engaging in prolonged political disputes.
According to him, many Nigerian families are still waiting for abducted schoolchildren, teachers and other victims of kidnapping to be rescued, stressing that these issues deserve the government’s full attention.
Atiku further renewed his call for the release of El-Rufai, maintaining that every Nigerian is entitled to fair hearing, due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
He added that justice must be administered fairly and transparently, without creating the impression of selective application of the law.
The former vice president also urged the Federal Government to strengthen public confidence through openness, accountability and respect for democratic principles, insisting that governments earn trust by addressing legitimate concerns with facts and by upholding the rule of law.
