Clandestine moves to silence Peter Obi spark fears over free speech, academic freedom in Nigeria
The media office of Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as coordinated efforts to restrict the former presidential candidate’s access to public platforms across Nigeria, warning of a “deepening democratic malaise.”
In a statement issued Monday, the Peter Obi Media Reach alleged that “surreptitious schemes” are being deployed to limit Obi’s engagements, particularly within public universities. The group cited the recent cancellation of a scheduled lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University, alongside similar last-minute withdrawals at University of Nigeria, Nsukka and other institutions.
According to the statement, the repeated denials—said to have occurred more than ten times in recent months—point to a troubling pattern rather than isolated administrative decisions. “This worrisome development is not an isolated hiccup, but a symptom of a broader erosion of democratic norms,” the group said.
The media office argued that universities, traditionally regarded as marketplaces of ideas, are increasingly yielding to external political pressures. It warned that such actions undermine their role as spaces for open dialogue, critical thinking, and intellectual exchange.
Obi himself described the trend as “a troubling pattern that should concern all well-meaning Nigerians,” urging institutions to uphold their responsibility as neutral grounds for public discourse.
POMR contrasted the situation with Obi’s reception abroad, noting that he has been hosted at globally renowned institutions such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and Yale University. The disparity, it said, raises critical questions about Nigeria’s commitment to free expression within its own academic spaces.
The group called on university administrators and governing councils to resist political interference and defend academic independence, warning that silencing voices within institutions of learning risks long-term intellectual and societal decline.
“We stand for an open Nigeria where the force of argument supersedes the argument of force,” the statement concluded.
