Obidient Movement Fires Back at Ali Modu Sheriff, Defends Peter Obi's Position on National Unity

 Obidient Movement Fires Back at Ali Modu Sheriff, Defends Peter Obi's Position on National Unity

Abuja, Nigeria — July 7, 2026

The Obidient Movement has issued a strongly worded statement condemning former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, over comments he made during a television interview, accusing him of attempting to divert attention from Nigeria's worsening security and economic challenges through what it described as "tribal fear-mongering."

In a press statement titled "The Absurdity of Ali Modu Sheriff: When the Godfather of Terrorism Chooses to Lecture Nigerians on Patriotism," the movement alleged that Sheriff failed to address questions regarding calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign over insecurity and economic hardship, instead focusing on issues relating to the Nigerian Civil War and Peter Obi.

According to the statement, Sheriff was asked to explain why he continues to support the Tinubu administration despite widespread public dissatisfaction over the country's security and economic conditions. The movement claimed he avoided answering the question directly and instead resorted to discussing tribal and historical issues.

The Obidient Movement defended its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that his position on national unity has remained consistent over the years. It said Obi believes every Nigerian deserves equal opportunities regardless of ethnic or religious background and cited his investments and business relationships across different regions of the country as evidence of his commitment to national integration.

The statement also highlighted Obi's previous remarks on Northern Nigeria, noting that he has repeatedly spoken about unlocking the region's vast agricultural potential to diversify Nigeria's economy beyond oil. According to the movement, such policies would accelerate economic growth in the North and improve livelihoods.

Responding to claims linking Obi with separatist sympathies, the Obidient Movement argued that the former Anambra State governor has consistently advocated for a united Nigeria founded on justice, dialogue and inclusion. It maintained that Obi has repeatedly called for addressing the grievances of all aggrieved groups through lawful and peaceful means rather than violence.

The movement further alleged that individuals benefiting from prolonged insecurity fear an Obi presidency because, according to it, his administration would dismantle what it described as the "lucrative insecurity industry" that has enriched political profiteers over the years.

It also criticized what it called the Tinubu administration's performance, arguing that Nigerians are more concerned about hunger, insecurity and the struggling economy than ethnic or religious divisions.

"The issue before the country is not tribe. It is not religion. It is not the Civil War. The issue is hunger. The issue is insecurity. The issue is economic collapse," the statement concluded, adding that no amount of ethnic or political propaganda could distract Nigerians from the country's current challenges.

The statement was signed by the Media and Communications Directorate of the Obidient Movement.

The remarks come amid intensifying political exchanges between supporters of the ruling administration and opposition figures as debates over governance, security and preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to dominate Nigeria's political landscape.