Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, now appears more democratic than some people who once claimed to have fought for democracy under the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Obi, who was the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remark in a post on his X handle.
His statement comes amid recent developments within the party, including court rulings and reactions from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the post, Obi criticized those he described as former defenders of democracy, accusing them of now acting against the same values they once promoted.
According to Peter Obi, “Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers. What a shame.
“What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights, who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha, now find themselves worse than the man they opposed.
“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’s comments are likely to stir debate, given Abacha’s controversial record as Nigeria’s military ruler from 1993 to 1998. His remarks also come at a time of growing political tension surrounding internal party issues and the role of INEC.
