Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has condemned the ongoing harassment of journalists in Nigeria by authorities.
Obi criticized the federal government’s frequent use of security and intelligence agencies to arrest and detain investigative journalists, warning that such actions could push Nigeria towards becoming a Banana Republic.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the arrest of Bristol Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, who operates the anonymous whistleblower account on X.com under the username @99% OPPRESSED, PIDOMNIGERIA.
In a statement on Friday, police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that PIDOM was arrested on August 5 in his hotel room in Rivers State for allegedly “committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations.”
In response, Obi issued a statement on his X account on Tuesday, urging the National Assembly to uphold the Freedom of Information Act and the rights of Nigerians to access information.
He stated, “The fundamental right to free speech is closely tied to the right to access information about government activities and decisions.”
Obi expressed concern over the alarming trend of government agents suppressing information unrelated to national security or public interest and stressed the need for alignment with the Freedom of Information Act.
He highlighted the importance of journalists in holding those in power accountable and noted that investigative journalists, who play a crucial role in uncovering the truth, are protected by laws that safeguard freedom of expression in a democracy.
Obi called on the federal government to release PIDOM and emphasized the necessity of an open society where citizens can freely exercise their right to free speech.
He wrote, “The disappearance and detention of PIDOMNIGERIA, a journalist, is a serious issue. Nigerian authorities must be held accountable for his whereabouts and any alleged wrongdoing.
“If such actions continue, Nigeria risks descending into a Banana Republic where journalists are silenced or disappear for simply doing their job.
“This is not the Nigeria we want or deserve. We demand justice, accountability, and an end to these egregious attacks on press freedom. We seek an open society where citizens can freely express themselves, access unclassified information, and hold the government fully accountable. These are the minimum requirements of the new society we envision.”
