Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar Tuesday took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for attacking former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, saying the trend bore the semblance of dictatorship.
Atiku made the remarks in a statement on his X handle where he accused the APC’s posture as disturbing.
It would be recalled recently; Obi has been relentless in his criticism of the APC-led government under President Bola Tinubu with the latest being his attack on the stampedes in Abuja, Ibadan and Anambra and Tinubu’s overseas trips.
Specifically, Obi said the stampede was a result of bad governance of the current Federal Government.
On foreign trips, Obi said Tinubu has spent 180 days of his about 19 months in the saddle traveling to about 16 countries.
And currently, Tinubu is in our West African neighbour Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama for a second term.
Obi, who was the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, had in his Christmas message asked Tinubu to engage in local travels, visit states, hospitals and universities an assess the situation and provide the right solutions to the myriad of problems confronting Nigeria.
The APC has criticized Obi for his continuous diatribe against the FG and Tinubu, accusing Obi of inciting Nigerians against the government of the day and its leaders.
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, said has “crossed the line” in his recent criticism of President Tinubu’s administration.
But Atiku in his reaction to the threat the APC made against Obi described the party’s remarks inflammatory, saying it “serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures,” Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in 2023 general elections, said.
Atiku said “This threat against Obi, coupled with the prolonged detention of Mahdi Shehu, a prominent voice of dissent and others, signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.
“The choice of words used by the APC’s spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has “crossed the line,” reveals an alarming disdain for democratic principles. Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme.
“A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Peter Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability.”
Atiku noted that apart from issues of right, it was the duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints.
“Instead, we are faced with a chilling threat that suggests Obi must “be ready for whatever comes his way.” What, exactly, does Mr. Morka imply by this? It is imperative that the ruling party provides clarity on this disturbing insinuation.
He said it was crude and disparaging how the APC spokesperson has framed Peter Obi’s calls for constructive engagement, likening them to a lawless Wild West scenario.
“Such reckless and derogatory expressions cannot be tolerated, and it is incumbent upon the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian people for such disgraceful language.
The case of Malam Shehu, languishing in detention without any clear explanation for his continued imprisonment, adds to the growing concern about the erosion of freedoms in Nigeria. If there is anyone who has truly “crossed the line,” it is the Tinubu administration, whose continuous vilification of opposition figures as mere irritants to be crushed is a dangerous precedent.
“It is now time for all men and women of goodwill to intervene, urging the @officialABAT government to recalibrate its approach to dealing with dissent and opposition. The time has come to put an end to this stifling of voices that are crucial to the health of any functioning democracy,” Atiku said.
