By RhemDy News
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has warned that no harm must happen to his counterpart in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi as well as former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The former Vice President maintained that the true measure of any democracy is not how comfortably those in power wield authority, but how safely those outside it can exercise their constitutional rights.
Atiku, gave the warning on Thursday through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
"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," Atiku said in the statement.
Atiku noted with deep concern, what he described as personal insults and derogatory language used by the Presidency while responding to a public comment credited to Obi who is currently in the United States.
Atiku insists that reducing political engagement to name-calling demeans the Office of the President and risks inflaming an already tense political atmosphere.
He said, "The Presidency must understand that democratic leadership demands composure, not contempt. When a citizen, particularly an opposition figure, voices concerns about the state of the nation or his personal safety, the first duty of government is to reassure through statesmanship, facts and responsible conduct—not through insults. Democracies are strengthened by reasoned engagement, not by invective. A government that answers every criticism with abuse projects insecurity, not confidence."
He added that no government should mistake criticism for sabotage or political competition for warfare, stressing that the opposition is not the enemy of Nigeria.
"Poverty is the enemy. Hunger is the enemy. Insecurity is the enemy. Corruption is the enemy. Kidnapping is the enemy. The daily bloodletting across our communities is the enemy.
"A government that devotes more energy to attacking its critics than confronting these existential challenges has confused political survival with the purpose of governance," he stated.
The former VP further noted that while Nigerians grapple with unprecedented economic hardship and worsening insecurity, families across the country continue to wait anxiously for the return of loved ones abducted by criminal gangs.
"There are schoolchildren and teachers still waiting to be reunited with their families. There are countless innocent Nigerians languishing in the camps of kidnappers. These are the emergencies that deserve the full machinery of government—not endless political sparring with opposition figures."
He urged the Federal Government to devote the same urgency it deploys in political communication to rescuing every Nigerian held captive and restoring public confidence in national security.
On the continued hold on El-Rufai, Atiku noted that his continued detention has generated widespread public concern.
He argued that, "Every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to due process, equal protection under the law and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court. Justice must never create the appearance of selective application."
Atiku called on the Federal Government to confront serious public controversies surrounding it with transparency and accountability rather than engaging in needless political distractions.
"Public confidence is not restored through insults or propaganda. It is restored through openness, accountability and the courage to answer legitimate questions. Governments earn trust by confronting controversy with facts, strengthening institutions and demonstrating that no one is above scrutiny."
He further warned that history has never been kind to governments that elevate political combat above the welfare and security of their citizens.
"Our elders say: 'When the drums of injustice beat for your neighbour, do not dance, for tomorrow they may beat for you.' Every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, has a stake in defending the democratic space.
"Nothing must happen to Peter Obi. Release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Bring home every abducted schoolchild, every teacher and every innocent Nigerian still languishing in the hands of kidnappers. Stop chasing political opponents and start confronting the crises that are bleeding our nation.
"History will not remember how fiercely a government fought its critics. It will remember whether it protected its citizens, upheld justice, rescued the vulnerable and preserved the democracy entrusted to its care," Atiku warned.
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