Popular Nigerian lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has once again stirred controversy as he openly criticized the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during a recent interview with Channels Television. The outspoken activist did not hold back as he addressed Obi’s perceived intolerance for criticism, which according to him, is unbecoming of anyone seeking political leadership in a democratic society.
This heated exchange comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Peter Obi against Deji Adeyanju, alleging defamation of character. Adeyanju, however, maintained his stance, insisting that what he does is purely constructive criticism and not defamation. He stressed that politicians, especially those aspiring for the highest office in the land, must be open to public scrutiny and should not attempt to silence dissenting voices through legal actions.
Adeyanju argued that democracy thrives on freedom of expression, criticism, and accountability, and any attempt to suppress those values would only lead to tyranny. He emphasized that Nigerian leaders must learn to endure harsh words, insults, and difficult questions from the public because such is the price of leadership in a country that is still struggling with governance and trust issues.
He further stated that anyone aspiring for public office must develop thick skin and be ready to absorb both positive and negative feedback from citizens. In his words, Adeyanju declared: “If Peter doesn’t want to be criticised, he should go back to his house and be eating jollof rice. Anyone who puts himself up for public office must be criticised, scrutinized, and insulted. Anybody who feels too big to be criticized or too big to be insulted is not fit for leadership.”
He went on to accuse Obi’s supporters, popularly referred to as the ‘Obidient’ movement, of sharing the same intolerance for opposing views. According to him, they have developed a habit of attacking anyone who questions their preferred candidate, which he described as dangerous for democratic culture.
His remarks immediately drew a wave of mixed reactions across social media platforms, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where many users weighed in on the ongoing feud. While some supported Adeyanju’s point about the importance of criticism in politics, others dismissed his comments, accusing him of seeking cheap popularity by constantly targeting Peter Obi, who is not even in government at the moment.
@ShrewdT3ch said: “Every day we make stupid people famous and then wonder why things like this happen. Look at this man who doesn’t know the difference between defamation and criticism, yet thinks he’s making sense — a total embarrassment.”
@kingydavies remarked: “How did this one even become a lawyer? He doesn’t know the clear difference between defamation of character and criticism. This is disappointing.”
@samtex88 also weighed in, stating: “A lawyer who does not know what is criticism and defamation. You wake up every day to talk about a man who never offended you in any way. He is not in government, yet you leave those in power and still attack him daily.”
The development has sparked debates among Nigerians about whether political leaders should go as far as filing lawsuits against critics or whether they should instead focus on addressing the issues being raised. The clash between Adeyanju and Obi has also revived conversations about the role of activists, media commentators, and supporters in shaping Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
Watch the video of Adeyanju’s statement below …
“If Peter doesn’t want to be criticised, he should go back to his house and be eating jollof rice.”
– Deji Adeyanju pic.twitter.com/OnlOmZLSae
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) August 31, 2025