Cleric Who Hosted Me Arrested — A Dangerous Signal for Democracy, Says Peter Obi
Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised serious concern over the arrest of Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, just days after hosting him during a recent visit.
Obi revealed the development on Tuesday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, describing the arrest as troubling and a warning sign for Nigeria’s democracy.
“I was informed early this morning that respected religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, has been arrested shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday,” he said.
He warned that actions like this create fear and weaken the country’s democratic space, stressing that freedom of speech and association must be protected.
“A democracy cannot survive where intimidation and suppression of dissent become the norm,” Obi stated, urging authorities to uphold the rule of law and respect citizens’ rights.
The former governor also called on those in power to avoid actions that could further damage Nigeria’s already fragile democratic system.
As of the time of this report, security agencies have not released any official statement explaining the arrest or the circumstances surrounding it.
The incident comes shortly after Obi’s visit to Kaduna, where he met with key stakeholders and spoke on the need for unity, inclusive governance, and decentralisation. He also highlighted Kaduna’s potential as a key driver of economic growth.
Obi maintained that Nigeria can only move forward as a united nation, warning that harassment of citizens based on perceived political views threatens both peace and progress.
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