President Bola Tinubu has warned Peter Obi to watch his mouth and stop running his government down.

The presidency, via a statement by Mr Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, condemned Mr Obi’s “exaggerated” excoriation of the incumbent president.

Mr Obi, a former presidential candidate and ex-governor, had accused Mr Tinubu’s government of political brigandage and corruption, claiming that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria.

The presidency took an exception to his claim.

“I will urge him to watch what he says and restrain himself from playing to the gallery,” the presidential aide warned. “His hyperbolic remarks, suited for headlines, have been made without deep reflection and lack a solid logical foundation.”

He berated Mr Obi as a “discontented and disgruntled” politician.

Mr Onanuga reasoned that if democracy had collapsed, as alleged by Mr Obi, the former Anambra governor would not enjoy free speech.

“How can a democracy that has strengthened over the past 26 years be said to have collapsed?” said the presidential spokesman. “Only a discontented and disgruntled Peter, who benefits from the very free speech democracy provides, could perceive such a democratic downfall through his lens.”

He added, “If democracy had indeed collapsed, as Peter claims, and we were living under a regime antithetical to democratic principles, he would not have been able to make his comments on Monday at Emeka Ihedioha’s colloquium.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also made damaging comments about the Tinubu presidency at the colloquium.