Following the recent safety concerns raised by the Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, the Obidient Movement has called on the Federal Government to reopen investigation into the 2006 assassination of former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Engr. Funsho Williams.
The group said that the recent concerns raised by Obi, over his personal safety have renewed the urgency of addressing unresolved political killings.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its Media and Communications Directorate, the movement described the unresolved murder of Williams as “an enduring stain on Nigeria’s democratic history” and urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector-General of Police to reopen the case immediately.
The group argued that nearly two decades after Williams was found murdered in his Lagos residence, Nigerians are yet to know those responsible for the crime, warning that the failure to resolve the case has continued to fuel public suspicion and erode confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
According to the movement, reopening the investigation would demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, transparency and accountability, irrespective of the political status of those who may be connected to the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Obi had recently expressed concerns about his safety ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he could not confidently guarantee that he would still be alive to contest the presidency because of what he described as persistent intimidation and hostility directed at him.
The Obidient Movement said such comments by a leading opposition figure should not be dismissed in a democratic society, noting that Nigeria’s history of unresolved political assassinations makes every allegation relating to the safety of political actors a matter of national concern.
It maintained that democracy cannot flourish where opposition politicians publicly express fears for their lives, adding that repeated failures to resolve politically sensitive murders have entrenched a culture of impunity.
The movement also urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security for Obi and other opposition leaders, stressing that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to participate in the democratic process without intimidation or fear.
While acknowledging that allegations surrounding the circumstances of Williams’ assassination have remained largely speculative, the group insisted that only a fresh, comprehensive and transparent investigation could establish the facts and restore public confidence.
It further argued that advances in forensic science and investigative technology now provide law enforcement agencies with tools that were unavailable when the murder occurred in 2006.
The movement said reopening the case would send a clear message that politically motivated crimes do not become immune from justice with the passage of time, urging the Inspector-General of Police to revisit the investigation without delay.
According to the group, resolving the Williams murder has become a broader test of Nigeria’s commitment to confronting political violence and ending the culture of impunity. Authority.
