In a statement that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, the former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused prominent pro-democracy activists of the 1990s of betraying the very ideals they once championed.
Writing on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Labour Party leader drew a provocative comparison between the current political climate and the military era of General Sani Abacha, suggesting that the champions of activism have proven to be more oppressive than the dictator they once fought.
Obi’s remarks specifically targeted figures associated with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) the group that led the fierce resistance against Abacha’s military rule following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election.
Many members of that coalition, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, currently hold significant power in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The opposition leader argued that the transition from activism to governance has revealed a troubling reversal of values.
He suggested that proximity to power has transformed former defenders of human rights into architects of the very same systemic suppression they once condemned.
The core of Obi’s critique rested on a startling historical reappraisal. He argued that history may eventually view General Abacha long considered the face of Nigerian military oppression in a more favorable light than the “so-called champions” currently at the helm of the nation’s affairs.
“Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days,” Obi declared.
He punctuated his statement with a pointed observation on the nature of leadership: “Power indeed reveals character. A New Nigeria is Possible…See More
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