Presidency Warns Peter Obi Over 'Democracy Has Collapsed' Comment: "Watch What You Say"

Presidency Warns Peter Obi Over 'Democracy Has Collapsed' Comment: "Watch What You Say"

  • President Bola Tinubu's administration has warned the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, to be careful of what he says
  • The presidency issued the warning after Obi's comment at the colloquium hosted in honour of Emeka Ihedioha, where he claimed Nigeria's democracy had collapsed
  • Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to the president, issued the warning while reacting to Obi's claim that Nigeria's democracy collapsed because of its current leaders

The presidency has replied to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, over his comment that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria.

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu's special adviser on information and strategy, gave a formal response while reacting to the video of Obi condemning Nigeria's leaders.

President Bola Tinubu's government has replied to Peter Obi on his comment that democracy in Nigeria has collapsed.
President Bola Tinubu's administration has warned Peter Obi over his comments that Nigeria's democracy has failed. Photo Credit: @PeterObi
Source: Twitter

Peter Obi: Democracy has collapsed in Nigeria

In the video, the Labour Party presidential candidate said Nigeria's democracy has collapsed because of the kind of leaders Nigeria currently has.

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Obi made the comment at the colloquium held to celebrate the 60th birthday of the former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha in Abuja on Monday, March 24.

The former governor of Anambra recalled that when he was impeached as governor, he was able to win in court and installed through the court while lamenting that such a situation did not exist in today's Nigeria's democracy.

Obi had challenged the victory of President Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election with the Supreme Court but his case before the apex judiciary was thrown out because of lack of evidence.

Onanuga, in his reaction to Obi's comment, cautioned the former presidential candidate to be cautious with his statement, adding that if democracy had truly collapsed, he would not have the freedom to speak in the public domain.

Why democracy still exists in Nigeria - presidency

The presidential aide wondered how a democracy that had strengthened over the past 26 years could be considered to have collapsed, as the opposition candidate had stated outright.

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Onanuga explained that if Nigeria currently existed under 'a regime antithetical to democratic principles', as claimed by Obi, the former presidential candidate would not have the avenue to comment as he did at Ihedioha's colloquium would not have been possible.

Tinubu's aide then warned Obi to be cautious of his statement and said:

"I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery."

Onanuga's full statement on Obi's democracy criticism is included below:

Presidency reacts to coalition plot against Tinubu

Legit.ng earlier reported that President Tinibu was unshaken by the coalition reportedly being formed by opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.

Onanuga made this statement while reacting to the announcement of the coalition at a press conference chaired by Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President.

According to the presidency's spokesperson, President Tinubu was more focused on leading at the moment and described the alliance as a group of sore losers.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
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Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with 7 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Google's Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop. He previously worked as an Editor with OperaNews. Legit’s Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023). Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng