Tinubu's government focuses on suppressing voices - Obidients.
A group identified as, the Obidient Movement, a movement which has been supporting the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi has raised an alarm over President Bola Tinubu’s “descent into full-blown dictatorship.” - as it described it.
On Tuesday, the movement’s Director of Strategic Communications and Media, Nana Kazaure in a statement accused President Tinubu's administration of attempting to stop and silence people, admonishing that the administration wants to stop freedom of speech.
This reaction followed after the Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, referred to Obi as a “disgruntled politician” and also warned him to “watch his mouth” over his statement at the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha's 60th birthday anniversary.
Kazaure stated that Onanuga through his statement attempted to intimidate Obi and silence opposing voices.
In Kazaure words, “The latest attack on H.E. Peter Obi by Mr. Bayo Onanuga betrays a desperate attempt to muzzle free speech, which is guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
She described Obi’s remarks at the 60th birthday celebration of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha as what he called the “increasingly despotic inclination” of the Tinubu's administration.
Kazaure questioned Onanuga thus, “Watch his mouth… or what? What exactly are Onanuga’s plans for H.E. Peter Obi? More broadly, what sinister agenda does the Tinubu administration have for its critics, whose numbers continue to grow daily due to the government’s failures?”
The movement also stated that the government is focused on attacking every opposing voices or force rather than solving Nigeria's problems.
“If the Tinubu administration invested even a fraction of the energy it uses to hound and demonize critics into actual governance, Nigeria would be a far better place,” Kazaure stated.
She stated that Nigerians are going through Hardships, insecurity, and economic instability due to “ten years of APC misrule.” and instead of providing a solution, officials like Onanuga is focused on intimidation.
“As millions of Nigerians struggle with the hardship foisted upon them by this administration, the least people like Mr. Onanuga should do is engage in deep reflection on their complicity in bringing a once-thriving nation to its knees,” she added.
The movement concluded by warning that if any harm is caused to Obi or his associates, the blame would fall on those who are making threats.
“We are putting Nigerians and the international community on strong notice that should any harm befall H.E. Peter Obi, his family, or any of his associates, these culprits—who have clearly identified themselves through their vitriolic speech—will be held entirely responsible,” the statement concluded.
