By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has alleged threat to his life following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his new year message.
Obi’s allegation follows a statement credited to the national spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, in a recent interview.
Morka was quoted to have said that “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets”.
In his new year press conference on Thursday, Obi had lamented the political, economic and security, healthcare situation in the country.
The former Anambra State governor said that the political, economic and security situation of Nigeria is worsening daily, despite government’s contrary positions and claims of improvement in different spheres of human endeavour.
“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline; thus our national indices tell a disconcerting story,” Obi said.
“Nigeria remains one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty. The situation has deteriorated significantly over the past 18 months under the current administration.
“As a nation, we have fallen from being the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in 2014, to now ranking fourth on the continent. Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000.”
Reacting to Morka’s statement in a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi asked if he has “really crossed the line” after receiving threats against his life, family, and associates following his New Year’s message.
He challenged anyone who thinks he has crossed the line to point it out to him where he did, expressing his commitment to upholding decorum.
The former governor also vowed not to be silenced in his resolve to speak truthfully, especially as the country “drift toward undemocratic practices.”
His post reads, “I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face the consequences.
“If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum. However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift toward undemocratic practices.
“We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed. May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children.”