Presidency warns Obi over comments on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, says he’s a failed politician

By Publisher
Kindly share:The Presidency has issued a warning to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 over what he considered the deplorable condition of democracy in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 60th birthday colloquium for former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, in Abuja on Monday, Obi claimed that democracy in Nigeria had collapsed.

He had added that the progress the country made since its return to civilian rule in 1999 had been eroded.

“If you looked at where we are today, it’s like, they (the PDP) started in 1999, laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to decking, and some people were trying to take it to the first floor, when some people came and knocked everything down,” the former Anambra State governor said.

“That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down and nothing works. I am somebody who can say this, exemplarily. I became a governor through the courts when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government.

“I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office and the court declared me winner, when a governor was not seeing them. This cannot happen in Nigeria today.”

However, Bayou Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy warned Obi to be mindful of his words.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Onanuga described Obi’s claims as exaggerated and lacking in logical foundation, adding that rather than diminish, democracy in Nigeria has only grown stronger over the past 26 years.

According to Onanuga: “I listened multiple times to former Governor Peter Obi’s statement in this clip, where he claims that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria. His hyperbolic remarks, suited for headlines, have been made without deep reflection and lack a solid logical foundation.“Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter, who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides, could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens. If democracy had indeed collapsed, as Peter claims, and we were living under a regime antithetical to democratic principles, he would not have been able to make his comments on Monday.

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