By VALENTINE OBIENYEM

“The way the government is going now, I might not be alive. I’m telling you. Every single thing I do, this government is frustrating. Deliberately so. There’s even a possibility that, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”

— Peter Obi

They were the words of Mr. Peter Obi himself. He is not known as garrulous or to habitually play to the gallery. Only he and those closest to him truly know the pressures, threats, and challenges he has faced.

Emeka Amadioha Opara circulated the statement, apparently expecting Nigerians to dismiss it as fearmongering. When that failed to gain traction, he resorted to sarcasm:

“Some people have termed Dedem Peter Obi’s outburst as a regrettable, desperate, self-righteous, disingenuous and disgraceful attempt at political blackmail!

Whatever they say, nothing must happen to my brother.

God abeg O!!!”

Sarcasm is often the last refuge of those who have no substantive answer.

My questions are straightforward. When Peter Obi was attacked in Edo State, where was your voice? Where was your outrage? Where was your condemnation?

When businesses associated with him - including the Next Mall in Abuja - were destroyed by fire, where were your appeals for justice? Where were your sermons against violence? I would genuinely like to read what you wrote then.

It is curious that those who maintained a deafening silence in the face of those events have suddenly found their voices - not to condemn violence, but to mock a man for expressing concern about his safety.

You may disagree with Peter Obi’s political views. You may oppose his ambitions. That is your democratic right. But no decent society should trivialize a person’s fear for his life, especially when that fear is informed by experiences that are already part of the public record.

The real question is not why Peter Obi expressed apprehension. The real question is why some people are more offended by his expression of fear than by the events that gave rise to it.

Whatever our political differences, one principle should unite us all: no Nigerian should be threatened, intimidated, attacked, or made to fear for his life because of politics. If we lose that principle, we lose far more than an election - we lose our humanity.

Beyond politics and the way Nigeria is today under Emeka’s master, is anybody safe? There is infinite possibility that anybody may die in Nigeria of PBAT at any time.

•Obienyem is Peter Obi’s Media Adviser.

Update news