President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to Peter Obi, urging him to be cautious with his statements and to refrain from making remarks that undermine his government.
The presidency, through a statement released by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, strongly condemned what it described as Obi’s exaggerated and harsh criticism of the current administration.
Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and a previous presidential candidate, had accused Tinubu’s government of engaging in political lawlessness and corruption. He further asserted that democracy in Nigeria had collapsed under the present leadership. This assertion, however, was met with strong opposition from the presidency.
Reacting to Obi’s claims, Onanuga advised him to exercise restraint and avoid making statements that merely serve to attract public attention without thoughtful consideration.
“I will urge him to be mindful of his utterances and refrain from making sensational statements that lack logical depth,” Onanuga stated. “His remarks, though designed for media headlines, are devoid of deep reflection and fail to hold any solid basis in reality.”
Onanuga further criticized Obi, portraying him as a politician driven by dissatisfaction and frustration.
Challenging Obi’s assertion that democracy had collapsed, the presidential spokesperson argued that if such a claim were true, Obi would not have the freedom to express his opinions so openly.
“How can anyone claim that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria when the system has continued to strengthen over the past 26 years?” Onanuga questioned. “Only someone like Peter Obi, who enjoys the very freedoms provided by democracy, can make such an unfounded claim.”
He further emphasized that if democracy had truly disintegrated, as Obi alleged, it would have been impossible for him to make such statements publicly, especially at an event like the colloquium organized by former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
Additionally, former President Olusegun Obasanjo also made critical remarks about the Tinubu administration while speaking at the same event.
