Peter Obi Should Protect Himself or Risk Dying in Vain – Afenifere Research Director

Dr Akin Fapohunda, Director of Research for the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, has issued a chilling warning to former Labour Party presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader, Mr Peter Obi, urging him to prioritise his personal security or face the grim reality that his death would change nothing in Nigeria.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, Peter Obi and other ADC chieftains, including former APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, came under heavy attack by suspected gunmen in Benin City on February 24, 2026. The assailants trailed the convoy to Oyegun’s residence – located on the same street as the Edo State Government House – opened fire, riddled the gate with bullets and destroyed several vehicles in what survivors described as a failed assassination attempt.

Reacting to the incident, Fapohunda drew a parallel with the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, who was shot while campaigning for the US presidency after serving as Attorney-General. “Robert Kennedy was shot in a campaign event… assassination is not a big deal if you have contesting powers that are not civilised,” he stated.

He did not spare the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, whose name he said he could barely pronounce, describing the administration as having “a village mentality.” Fapohunda argued that the governor was “catapulted there by Oshiomhole and he is doing their bidding,” likening the situation to the late strongman Lamidi Adedibu’s reign in Ibadan.

“Oyegun’s house is next to Government House… if you shout, in fact that street ought to have been cordoned off routinely. How come the same street of the Government House, how come 30 people will bring convoy of vehicles… It’s just symptomatic of who we are, might is right. Once you have power of the state, you can do anything,” Fapohunda fumed.

The Afenifere chief reserved his harshest words for Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua, who had described the attack as “intra-party activities” within the ADC. “The very bad thing is for people to be insulting our intelligence… whereby it’s people like Afegbua that argues like that. The man sometimes insults intelligent people. I wonder who he is, this Afegbua man… his views are totally pedestrian, it’s not valid,” he declared.

Fapohunda reminded Nigerians of past high-profile killings that produced no consequences: the assassination of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Chief Bola Ige in 2001 and the killing of Rivers State PDP chieftain Chief Harry Marshall in 2003. “If any of them could have been shot, even if Peter Obi had been shot, what will happen? Nothing… In this country, a sitting Attorney-General… They will sign statements, condemn it… Will anybody resign? Will the IGP leave his desk? Will the Governor leave his position? Anybody who dies, just dies, that’s just the truth.”

He contrasted Nigeria’s attitude with that of the United States, where the deaths of even four soldiers trigger national funerals and accountability. “The way the Government in America values their citizens, is that the way we value ours in Nigeria?”

Fapohunda ended with direct advice to Obi: “Peter Obi better protect himself and not just die in vain, that’s what I can advise him. If he dies, nothing will happen. There will be little riots here and there but that will be the end.”

The statement has sparked fresh debate on the state of security for opposition figures and the seeming culture of impunity in Nigerian politics.