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…Accuses FG of harassment, intimidation
…Says Tinubu undermining democracy
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded the release of Rilwan Olawale, a supporter whose arrest he described as part of a pattern of intimidation against his backers, and has warned the federal government to stop harassing them.
In a statement posted on his X account, the former Anambra State governor said the continued harassment of his supporters across the country, including the case of Olawale, is “disturbing and unacceptable.”
He accused President Bola Tinubu of encouraging and facilitating violence, arguing that the president, who he said has benefited greatly from democracy, should not be undermining it.
Obi said his campaign is peaceful and issue-driven, focused on competence, accountability, justice and compassion. He stressed that the party has chosen persuasion over intimidation, but warned that its restraint should not be mistaken for weakness or fear.
He said: “The continued intimidation and harassment of my supporters across the country, the latest being the case of Rilwan Olawale, is disturbing and unacceptable.
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”President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence.
”Our campaign is peaceful and issue-driven, focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, accountability, justice, and compassion.
”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. We will not be intimidated into silence, nor will we abandon Nigerians who believe in a New Nigeria that is possible and will be OK.
”I therefore demand transparency regarding Rilwan Olawale’s arrest, his release, respect for his rights, and an end to politically motivated harassment. No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice.
”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.”
