The Obidient Movement, a group loyal to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks celebrating the division among opposition parties.

Describing Tinubu’s remarks of ‘opposition in disarray’ as undemocratic and dangerous for Nigeria’s political future, the group said the President’s comments were indicative of a deeper agenda to destabilise the democratic process.

Tinubu, while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly during this year’s Democracy Day celebrations in Abuja, on Thursday, openly declared that he takes pleasure in seeing the opposition in disarray and had no intentions of assisting them in resolving internal crises.

“For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray,” Tinubu stated.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, expressed shock at what he described as a public endorsement of political sabotage by the nation’s highest officeholder.

“This is not only shameful but deeply troubling. It confirms what Peter Obi has consistently warned about, that the current administration is not just indifferent to the rule of law and democratic ideals, but is actively working against them,” Tanko said.

Tanko described Tinubu’s statement as a veiled threat to Nigeria’s already fragile democracy, calling on the international community to pay closer attention to what he labelled a “dangerous shift” in Nigeria’s political climate.

He said, “You can now see the kind of political leaders we are dealing with in this country. They are ruthless in their actions and words. This isn’t just careless talk, it is a direct admission of interfering in the affairs of opposition parties. The presidency is openly ridiculing the concept of a vibrant multiparty democracy.

“This is why we keep saying that democracy is dying under this administration, and the world must not look away. The United States and other democratic nations must realise that what is happening in Nigeria will have ripple effects across Africa. If democracy collapses in the most populous black nation, it will send a dangerous signal to the entire continent.”

He also took a swipe at the president’s symbolic gestures during the Democracy Day event, including the posthumous pardon of the Ogoni Nine and the conferment of national honours on June 12 heroes.

Tanko described the move as politically motivated and a distraction from the more pressing issues plaguing Nigerians.

“That was nothing but a publicity stunt. Nigerians are not asking for awards or political drama. They are asking for food, jobs, security, and an economy that works. These so-called pardons and national honours are just strategic gimmicks to score political points ahead of the 2027 election. But the people are not fooled,” he stated.

Tanko lamented the growing hardship in the country, warning that empty political theatrics could not mask the pain and suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

“During the last Sallah celebration, how many people were truly happy? Joy has been taken away from Nigerians. What they need is economic relief, not symbolic gestures. Leadership must focus on substance, not spectacle,” he said. (Saturday PUNCH)