Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has strongly condemned the persistent harassment and intimidation of journalists in Nigeria by the authorities. He warned that the federal government’s trend of using security and intelligence agencies to arrest and detain investigative journalists could lead to Nigeria becoming a Banana Republic, where freedom of speech and the press are severely compromised.

Obi’s statement came after the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest of Bristol Tamunobiefiri, a journalist who runs an anonymous whistleblower account on X.com. The police alleged that Tamunobiefiri had committed serious offences that undermined the integrity of government operations.

Obi called on the National Assembly to urgently enact a Freedom of Information Act that would guarantee Nigerians’ right to access information. He emphasized that the fundamental right to free speech is linked to the right to access information about government activities and decision-making.

The former governor of Anambra State expressed deep concern over the harassment, abduction, detention, and other draconian measures faced by investigative journalists in Nigeria. He urged the federal government to release Tamunobiefiri and emphasized the need for an open society where citizens can exercise their right to free speech.

Obi warned that if such actions continue, Nigeria risks degenerating into a Banana Republic where journalists are silenced or disappear for doing their job. He demanded justice, accountability, and an end to the egregious attacks on press freedom, seeking an open society where citizens can express themselves freely, have access to unclassified information, and hold the government accountable.