Peter Obi: Atiku warns against threats to opposition leaders

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against threats to opposition leaders.

Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, stated that any threat against Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is a threat to all opposition figures.

He wrote, “Let it be known that a threat against Peter Obi or any of us is a threat against all of us!”

The former vice president’s reaction followed comments by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who, while addressing supporters at a rally in Benin City last Friday, warned Obi to obtain security clearance before visiting the state.

“If Peter Obi wants to come here, he should seek proper security clearance. We cannot guarantee his safety otherwise if anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking,” he had said.

He further claimed that the last time Obi visited the state and made a donation of N15 million to a nursing school in the state, there was unrest in the state leading to the death of some people.

Amid backlash from many Nigerians and notable individuals, the governor insisted that his comments were misinterpreted, stressing that his call was a security protocol and not hostility toward the opposition leader.

The governor slammed the critics, adding that the statement should not be misconstrued as a threat.

In a statement on Sunday, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said that his principal’s statement was given various misinterpretations.