Presidency warns Obi after saying Tinubu destroyed Nigeria’s democracy

The Presidency has fired back at Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), following his statement that Nigeria’s democracy is collapsing under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Obi made the comment on Monday during the 60th birthday colloquium of Emeka Ihedioha, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. He referenced the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by Tinubu, and his suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state’s lawmakers. Obi argued that the move signalled the downfall of Nigeria’s democratic system.

He said the federal government’s interference in Rivers stands in stark contrast to past administrations that worked to uphold democratic norms.

“They started in 1999, laid the foundation, some people came and took it to decking; and some people were trying to raise to first floor; and some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works,” he said.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed Obi’s remarks as exaggerated and lacking in logical basis. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Onanuga claimed democracy in Nigeria has grown stronger over the past 26 years and has not collapsed as claimed by Obi.

“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,” Onanuga said.

He claimed that Nigeria remains a functioning democracy, as evidenced by Obi’s ability to freely criticize the government.

“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 at Emeka Ihedioha’s colloquium,” Onanuga added.

Nothing works

Obi had drawn parallels between his own experience as Anambra governor and the current situation in Rivers state, recalling how former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was in attendance at the colloquium, attempted to mediate during his impeachment.

“I am someone who became a governor through the court when President Obasanjo and (former vice president) Atiku (Abubakar) were in government,” he said.

“I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office, and the court declared me the winner. It can’t happen in Nigeria today.

“When I was being impeached, the president sent people to come and intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging the house (house of assembly) not to impeach me.

“Today, the president (Tinubu) is impeaching a person (Fubara).

“They were in PDP; I was in APGA. The president was calling and saying, ‘Peter, are you okay? Even when I was impeached, President Obasanjo called and said, ‘Are you okay? Are you safe?

“When the court eventually declared me (the winner) under Andy Uba (as governor), President Yar’Adua called my phone in London and said, ‘Congrats. I said, president, I can’t come back. You know, if I come back, these people… He said tell me the flight in which you are coming back and I told him.

“When I came back, it was the first time military people came to receive me at the airport; I couldn’t believe it, and took me straight to him.

“Now, the president would ask me not to come back. So it’s (democracy) failed. Let’s not talk about… let’s talk about how to rebuild it. It’s collapsing.”

The declaration of emergency rule in Rivers and the how the government handled the process of suspending elected officials, have been widely criticised by Nigerians, including the Nigerian Bar Association, and even some lawmakers.

Critics argue that the move undermines democratic institutions and sets a dangerous precedent for federal overreach in state affairs. The Senate and House of Representatives’ swift ratification of Tinubu’s decision has further fuelled concerns about legislative independence.

Onanuga “urged” Obi to exercise caution in his statements and not “play to the gallery.”

“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 at Emeka Ihedioha’s colloquium. I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery,” he said.