CALL FOR THE ARREST & PROSECUTION OF PETER OBI FOR SEDITION : A MATTER OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW
Opinion By: Dr Abayomi Arabambi
July 11, 2026
Fellow Nigerians, members of the press,
I address you today with a heavy sense of responsibility, not out of partisan malice, but out of genuine concern for the principles that bind us as a nation — the rule of law, accountability, and the dignity of every Nigerian worker.
*Over the past few days, we have witnessed a troubling episode involving Mr. Peter Obi and the management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. What began as a routine infraction has now escalated into a matter of national concern, not because of the offence itself, but because of the manner in which it has been handled and, more importantly, the dangerous sedition narrative that has been presented to the public.*
Let me begin by addressing the most troubling aspect of this entire saga.
*Mr. Peter Obi did not simply park wrongly and move on. He went on national media and alleged that he was being persecuted by the Federal Government. He went further to suggest that his life was in danger — that he may not live to see the next election. These are grave allegations. These are not words to be uttered lightly. They carry weight. They incite emotion. They create an atmosphere of tension and distrust.*
And what happened next? Without verification, without waiting for the other side of the story, opposition leaders and their supporters joined the chorus. They amplified these allegations. They condemned the government. They called it a witch-hunt. They rushed to judgment based on nothing but one man’s narrative.
This is the danger of one-sided storytelling.
In our democracy, we have a fundamental duty to hear both sides before reaching conclusions. We have a responsibility to verify facts before we speak. We have an obligation to protect the integrity of our public discourse. Unfortunately, in this instance, that duty was abandoned. Emotion triumphed over reason. Sentiment triumphed over truth.
*Now, the facts have emerged. The Minister of Aviation, upon hearing Mr. Obi’s public claim of persecution, initiated an internal inquiry. The findings, supported by 24/7 CCTV footage, have now been made available. The facts are unambiguous:*
– Mr. Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for approximately 30 minutes in a restricted zone at the airport — a clear violation of safety protocols and a security risk by global best practices.
– The vehicle was clamped by airport staff performing their lawful duties, with no knowledge of whose vehicle it was.
– Upon discovering the clamp, Mr. Obi personally intervened via telephone and secured the release of his vehicle without paying the mandatory fine of N25,000 — an act of influence peddling that ordinary Nigerians cannot afford.
– He then proceeded to make public statements suggesting that he was being targeted by the Federal Government, painting himself as a victim while omitting the full facts.
These are the facts. They are not allegations. They are not opinions. They are documented on video for all Nigerians to see.
Now, I ask us all to reflect deeply.
*What message does this send to the ordinary Nigerian? What does it say about our society when a public figure can violate a simple regulation, evade the prescribed penalty through influence, and then accuse the very workers who did their duty of persecution?*
*What does it say when such a figure can go on air and suggest that his life is threatened — a seditious statement that, if left unchallenged, could incite his supporters and create unnecessary tension in our polity?*
And what does it say about those who amplified this narrative without verification? Opposition leaders who rushed to defend him, who condemned the government, who rallied their followers — all based on one side of the story. They owe Nigerians an apology. They owe the airport workers an apology. They owe our nation an apology for feeding into a narrative that has now been proven false.
This is not about politics. This is about the integrity of our public discourse. This is about the danger of weaponizing victimhood to manipulate public sentiment. This is about the principle that we are all equal before the law — regardless of our status, our connections, or our political affiliations.
This is not about the N25,000. This is about respect for the hardworking men and women who serve our nation daily, often without recognition and with little reward. It is about the integrity of our institutions and the faith that citizens must have in them. It is about ensuring that our public space is not poisoned by false narratives designed to score cheap political points.
*I therefore, with all sense of responsibility, call on the relevant security agencies — the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services — to invite Mr. Peter Obi for questioning. This is not a call for persecution. It is a call for due process. Let the facts be properly examined. Let the appropriate legal steps be taken, if any breach of the law is established.*
But beyond that, I call on all Nigerians — leaders, followers, commentators, and citizens — to learn a lesson from this episode. Let us not be quick to judge. Let us not allow sentiment to cloud our reasoning. Let us demand facts before we form opinions. Let us hold our leaders accountable not just for their actions, but for their words.
*Mr. Peter Obi has been given a window by the Minister to publicly apologize to the airport staff and pay the fine. That is a reasonable and measured demand. I urge him to take that step in the spirit of responsibility that leadership demands. It would be a gesture of humility and a recognition that no one is above the law. It would also be an acknowledgment that his earlier statements were premature and unfounded.*
However, should he fail to do so, the law must take its course. We cannot afford to create a culture where influence trumps accountability. We cannot afford to send a signal that public figures can manipulate the system, spread false narratives, and then play the victim.
Nigerians are watching. And they are tired. They are tired of double standards. They are tired of leaders who demand respect but refuse to show it. They are tired of a system that punishes the poor and forgives the powerful. They are tired of being manipulated by emotional rhetoric that crumbles when confronted with facts.
This is a moment for us to demonstrate that we are building a new Nigeria — one where the rules apply to all, where workers are respected, where truth is not sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, and where our public discourse is guided by reason and evidence, not by emotion and partisanship.
I call on Mr. Peter Obi to do the right thing. Apologize. Pay the fine. Set an example worthy of leadership.
I call on opposition leaders who joined this narrative without verification to also reflect on their actions and apologize to Nigerians.
And I call on our security agencies to act with professionalism and courage. If the law has been broken, let it be applied fairly and firmly — to Peter Obi, and to any other Nigerian who finds themselves in a similar position.
*By alluding to the fact that he may not live to see 2027 is a seditious a criminal offense governed Section 50 and 51 of the Criminal Code Act (or Sections 416-422 of the Penal Code). It punishes spoken words, writings, or publications that incite disaffection or hatred against the President, state governors, or the Nigerian government.*
Moreover in the words of Martin Luther king Jr:
_”our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”_
*Having set the record straight , it is important that peter obi long empty epistle of calumny via the pod cast is a manifestation that he substantially lacks the capacity to correctly understand the complexities in rational thinking needed to be a responsible public commentator.*
*Such an unintelligent epistle usually comes from a programed puppet with a wholesome bitter and ignorant mind that is poisonous to the society.*
*Finally and according to the Criminal Code Act, seditious intent involves the desire to:Bring the President, state governor, or the Government of the Federation into hatred or contempt punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, or both.*
That is the Nigeria we all deserve.
Thank you.
—
Signed:
Dr Abayomi Arabambi
National Vice Chairman
South West (LP)
Date: Sunday 12th July, 2026
