Nigeria must belong to all of us,” he said.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged arrest of an Obidient Movement coordinator in Akwa Ibom Status.
Naija News reported that the Akwa Ibom Situation Police Command allegedly arrested the Obidient Director for Akwa Ibom Status, Ben Smith.
The incident occurred although Smith was trying to facilitate the print of some Obidient Movement members, including Elijah Noah, who had been arrested earlier.
Reacting to the development in a observation posted on 𝕏, Obi stated that Nigerians should be able to articulate their political affiliations minus fear, provided they act in the law.
He described the development as a danger to freedom.
“Reports that some Nigerians in Akwa Ibom were arrested plainly for identifying using the Obidient Movement should worry every Nigerian who believes in democracy and freedom, primarily when such identification is a constitutional right,” Obi said.
The former Anambra Status governor, who described independence as meaningless minus authentic freedom, said citizens must be able to articulate themselves minus fear of intimidation.
“Independence means remarkably little if citizens cannot freely articulate themselves, during the bounds of the law, minus fear,” he said.
Obi too criticised what he described as the tendency of some community who previously fought against injustice to support oppression later than assuming positions of authority.
“One of the greatest tragedies of our population is that community who once described themselves as freedom fighters can become defenders of oppression when they ultimately occupy positions of authority,” he said.
He added that individuals who had once spoken against injustice could become indifferent to it when it affected those together with whom they disagreed.
Obi said Nigeria’s independence should render into freedom from fear, injustice, intolerance and abuse of power, stressing that the country should belong to all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations.
“Our independence must at persist mean freedom from fear, injustice, intolerance and abuse of power.
Source: Peter Obi Reacts As Obidient Coordinator Is Allegedly Arrested In Akwa Ibom
