Thursday, July 17, 2025 - Bashir Ahmad, a former spokesperson of late former President Muhammadu Buhari , has reacted to the backlash he received from some netizens after he shared photos of himself and Peter Obi in Daura, Katsina state.
Obi had on Wednesday, July 16, visited the home of former
President Buhari to pay his condolence visit a day after the former President
was laid to rest. While in Daura, he ran into Bashir who is one of his
strongest critics online.
Later in the day, Bashir shared photos of himself and Obi
together. Many Nigerians believed to be supporters of Obi had knocked him for
posing for a photo with the same politician he has constantly criticized.
Reacting to the backlash, Ahmad in a post shared recounted
how he met Obi and stated that it was only civil for him to have taken a photo
of the politician who had come to the home of his former boss to pay his
condolences.
He opined that the Obidients, name for Obi's supporters, are
making it hard for Obi to build a broader coalition for him to become president
with the constant hounding of anyone who is not a supporter of the
politician.
His post reads
My meeting
with @PeterObi in Daura
When I
arrived at Baba’s residence this morning, many dignitaries were already seated
at the place reserved for the prayer session. I first went to greet Mallam
Mamman Daura, then moved on to greet Atiku Abubakar, who was sitting beside
him. Next was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and then Mr. Peter Obi, who was sitting on
the same chair with Mallam.
Interestingly,
Mr. Obi told me something I recently posted on Twitter. I smiled and continued
down the row to greet others. Moments later,
@YunusaTanko
didn’t realize I had already greeted his boss, so he pointed me out again. I
moved closer, and Mr. Obi again offered his condolences on Baba’s passing and
told me he admired my loyalty to Baba even after leaving the office.
There was no
talk of politics or pictures until much later, when he was about to leave.
Coincidentally, I had stepped outside to receive other visitors. We stood for a
few moments. In a lighthearted tone, Mr. Obi said I should come and support him
and he also mentioned how he had seen vast land for agriculture on the road
coming to Daura.
To my
surprise, when I posted our pictures, his supporters, the so-called
“Obidients,” as usual, launched the attacks on me. Frankly, I had expected the
criticism to come from within my party for taking pictures with an opposition
leader. Good that my party members understand the situation and we don’t
politicize everything.
I would like
to even make it clear that I didn’t visit Peter Obi, he came to us and he did
so out of respect for President Buhari, and there was nothing political about
our brief exchange, it was purely a humane, respectful moment during a time of
mourning.
With such
supporters who are only experts in bullying, gatekeeping and intolerance, it is
hard for Mr. Obi to build the broad coalition necessary for him to become
President. His supporters are simply not enough on their own to make him
President and worse still, they attack, block and harass those who might
otherwise be willing to help him do so.
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