Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has ignited a storm of criticism on X (formerly Twitter) after posting a tweet that many Nigerians have condemned as an attempt to whitewash the legacy of late military dictator General Sani Abacha while downplaying the sacrifices of the pro-democracy group NADECO.
In the tweet, which quickly amassed over 27,000 likes and more than 2,200 replies, Obi stated: “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. Power indeed reveals character. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO”
The post, widely interpreted as a veiled attack on President Bola Tinubu and other former NADECO figures now in power, has triggered outrage from users who accuse Obi of historical revisionism. Abacha’s regime (1993–1998) is remembered for widespread human rights abuses, including the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the detention or killing of numerous pro-democracy advocates. Critics argue Obi’s remarks minimise those struggles and elevate a dictator’s image.
The backlash was swift and intense, with hundreds of replies directly challenging Obi’s narrative and highlighting what they describe as his own inconsistencies on democracy and governance. Here are replies that captured the strongest criticism in the thread:
Chigozirim Emeakayi (@GoziconC) fired back: “See who is talking about democracy!! Same guy who refused to conduct LGA elections for 6 and half years. Same guy who wants to get the Presidential Ticket on a platter without any opponent. Same guy who rigged Southeast to his favor in 2023. Same guy who destroyed APGA, PDP, LP and has now succeeded in destroying ADC. Keep your mouth shut! You are an embodiment of bad luck!”
Michael Chibuzo (@chibuzo_mikel) called him out for hypocrisy: “You’re a big hypocrite. You are the same person that usually shouts with Adaobi voice how a process is more important than the result. E reach ADC, you forget that process is important. How do you want to promote democracy when you violate democratic principles in your hostile takeover of ADC and went as far as forging signature of some people.”
Rotimi Adeosun (@adeosunm) wrote: “Your own concept of defending ‘democracy and human rights’ is condoning ‘anyhowness’ and criminality, which in your usual hypocrisy you once boasted wouldn’t be allowed if you were voted, and also be in alliance with a party of forgers! You aren’t different from your associates.”
CBN Gov Akinsola Akin (@cbngov_akin1) delivered a lengthy indictment: “The Man who refused to conduct local government elections for his entire 8-year as governor from 2006 to 2014 is talking… You ran Anambra without a single democratic local government election… Now you are crying about others destroying democracy? … A New Nigeria is indeed possible… just not with this level of hypocrisy of yours.”
DeltaBoyWithLagosSwaggerUmukoro (@umukoroDeltaBoy) accused Obi of double standards: “Coming from a SHAMELESS Political Prostitute with ZERO Ideology… When they were FIGHTING for democracy YOU were BUSY working for SAME ABACHA… You’re a DISGRACE to call Tinubu with your FILTY MOUTH. Useless Aba made President fraud!”
Àlúbàríkà (@Iyoaiye_) slammed what he called selective amnesia: “It’s utterly disgraceful that someone parading himself as a presidential aspirant can develop such selective amnesia… Now the cracks you ignored are wide open… instead of owning your incompetence, you’re shamelessly pointing fingers at Tinubu and the APC led govt. This isn’t persecution. It’s the predictable consequence of carelessness, arrogance and zero due diligence.”
Ọlánrèwájú Ìdòwú (@aoidowu1309) reminded Obi of his own past: “You were with Abacha when they were fighting for democracy. Were you by then, you are a loafer.”
Latok (@idowuham) questioned Obi’s fitness to lead: “Sometimes, I sat myself down to think how you served as a former governor of a state in Nigeria. Are you sure you are the same person? Most of your tweets do not represent the person many people claimed… how will you lead over 200M of people with diverse ethnicity?”
AdeKlinsmann ll (@Adeklinsmann2) accused him of deflection: “Mumu you, as a leader in ADC instead of you and your fellow leaders to address the issue in your party you are here pointing accusing finger to some else. Did anyone asked you people to hijack existing party.”
Osas (@osazenoo) mocked the party crisis: “Una go hijack political party. You dey find who to blame. Better return to Labour Party.”
The torrent of replies reflects deep political polarisation in Nigeria, with Obi’s supporters praising the tweet as a bold truth-telling moment while critics see it as opportunistic revisionism ahead of future political contests. As the conversation continues to trend, the episode underscores how Nigeria’s turbulent democratic history remains a live wire in public discourse.