My Family And I Being Threatened, Obi, Raises Alarm

…..Atiku Slams Morka For Attack On Obi, Urges APC Govt To Tolerate Criticism

By Tonia Okereke

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried being threatened by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

Obi in a post shared on X said the ruling party is threatening him over his New Year message in which, he he stressed that Nigerians are going through untold hardship while calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cut down on the cost of governance.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, recently said in a TV interview that Obi has crossed the line with his criticism of government.

Obi wrote: “Have I really crossed the line? 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.

“I find it necessary to share this message again and urge everyone who has not seen it to watch:

youtube.com/watch?v=waGknJ…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. -PO”

…..Atiku Slams Morka For Attack On Obi, Urges APC Govt To Tolerate Criticism

Many reactions have trailed Obi’s post on X with the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar slamming Morka for making inflammatory remarks against Obi.

Atiku and Obi ran as a joint presidential ticket under the PDP in 2019, but flew separate flag in the 2023 election.

“The inflammatory remarks issued by the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, directed at @PeterObi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures”, Atiku wrote.

“The choice of words used by the APC’s spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has “crossed the line,” reveals an alarming disdain for democratic principles. Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme. A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Peter Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability”.

Atiku slammed Morka’s posture and choice of words, saying, “It is not merely the right, but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints. Instead, we are faced with a chilling threat that suggests Obi must “be ready for whatever comes his way.” What, exactly, does Mr. Morka imply by this? It is imperative that the ruling party provides clarity on this disturbing insinuation.

“Equally troubling is the crude and disparaging manner in which the APC spokesperson has framed Peter Obi’s calls for constructive engagement, likening them to a lawless Wild West scenario. Such reckless and derogatory expressions cannot be tolerated, and it is incumbent upon the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian people for such disgraceful language”.