Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded the immediate release of Rilwan Olawale, alleging that his supporters are being subjected to intimidation and harassment across the country.
Obi, in a statement, described the continued harassment of his supporters as disturbing and unacceptable, citing Olawale’s arrest as the latest example of what he characterised as politically motivated intimidation.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of undermining democratic values by allegedly encouraging or facilitating political violence. “President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said his political campaign remained peaceful and focused on issues, with an emphasis on providing Nigerians with a credible alternative anchored on competence, accountability, justice and compassion.
According to him, his movement has chosen persuasion over intimidation and peace over violence, insisting that its commitment to civility should not be interpreted as a lack of resolve. “We have chosen the path of peace, not violence; persuasion, not intimidation. However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve,” he said.
Obi maintained that neither he nor his supporters would be intimidated into silence or abandon their commitment to building what he described as a New Nigeria.
He demanded transparency over the circumstances surrounding Olawale’s arrest, his immediate release, respect for his fundamental rights and an end to what he called politically motivated harassment.
The NDC presidential candidate further argued that Nigerians should be free to support candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation or persecution. “No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice,” he said.
While reaffirming his commitment to peaceful political engagement, Obi vowed that he and his supporters would resist any attempt to undermine their democratic rights through lawful means.
“We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights,” he said.
He concluded with his political movement’s familiar declaration that “a New Nigeria is possible and will be OK.”
