Peter Obi raises alarm over threat messages

Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has raised concerns about threats directed at him, his family, and associates following his New Year message about President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement shared on his X handle, Obi revealed that he had been accused of “crossing the line” and warned of consequences. He expressed apprehension about Nigeria’s drift toward an authoritarian and repressive regime.

Supporters of Obi, under the Obidient Movement, urged Nigerians to take note of what they described as open threats allegedly issued by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against their leader.

Meanwhile, the APC defended its spokesman, absolving him of any wrongdoing in relation to the claims.

The post read: “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:
“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.”

Obedients react
Similarly, Obi’s supporters have urged Nigerians to take note of the open threat issued by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against their principal.

Spokesperson of the movement, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, in statement in Abuja, yesterday, expressed the group’s displeasure and concern over the threats issued by the APC through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, in an interview on national television.

Yunusa said: “The comments were made by Mr. Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, on Arise TV on January 5, 2025.

‘’His statement that ‘Mr. Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and he has what’s coming to him, and whatever he gets, he should manage it,’ is considered a direct threat to Mr. Obi’s life and the peace of the Nigerian state.

“We view this as not only an attack on Mr. Peter Obi but also a dangerous signal of Nigeria’s descent into authoritarianism under the current administration.

“Such a declaration from the spokesperson of the ruling party is reckless, unbecoming, and a blatant endorsement of violence.

“Mr. Peter Obi’s commitment to Nigeria has been consistently demonstrated through his issue-based politics, his relentless pursuit of solutions to national challenges, and his respect for democratic principles.

“His New Year address, which critically evaluated the state of the nation and offered practical solutions, was devoid of personal attacks, hate or incitement. It was a message of hope and a call for decisive action to rescue Nigeria.”

The movement asked the APC to state categorically what lines Mr. Obi crossed, who drew those lines and on whose authority?

Yunusa explained that the Nigerian constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression and the protection of life, adding that it is unacceptable that a government which swore to uphold these principles now seeks to silence dissenting voices with threats.

“Mr. Felix Morka’s statement confirms what Mr. Obi has repeatedly pointed out—that his life, his business, and all he represents are under coordinated attacks aimed at silencing his voice and that of his supporters at large.

“This administration has chosen repression over dialogue, intimidation over engagement, and threats over democratic discourse.

“We categorically state that if any harm befalls Mr. Peter Obi, his family, or anyone associated with him, the Nigerian government and its agents will be held directly responsible.

“Nigerians and the international community must take note of this emerging pattern of repression and act to hold those in power accountable.

“The Obidient Movement will not be cowed into silence. We stand firmly with Mr. Peter Obi and his vision for a just, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.

“We call on Nigerians to resist this slide into authoritarianism by continuing to demand accountability, justice, and the protection of democratic values.

“Finally, we urge the security services to not sweep such threats under the carpet as they had done in previous times but engage Mr Morka to elucidate on his utterance.

“Furthermore, the ruling party should call to order their mouth piece and members at large to desist from actions that could heat up the polity. In addition, the government of the day should foster an environment of noble ideas to shape our national discourse and not threats,’’ Tanko said further.

APC absolves spokesman
Reacting to the allegation yesterday, the All Progressives Congress, APC, that its spokesman, Felix Morka, threatened the life of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.

In a tweet on its X handle, APC accused Obi’s supporters of resorting to false and malicious information suggesting a threat to Obi’s life.

“After losing the argument, typical ‘Obidients’ have resorted to spreading false and malicious information suggesting that Felix Morka, APC NPS, threatened @PeterObi’s life.
‘’As clip and transcript show, Morka’s answer to @ARISEtv question contains no threat, whatsoever, against anyone.’’

‘Below is the transcript provided by the APC:

“PRESENTER: You have hit back with a volley of attacks calling Obi a prophet of doom. Some of you have said he is always embarking on voodoo economics that are not in line with current realities. Don’t you think that is a slingshot that has gone beyond normal politicking?

“ANSWER (Felix Morka, APC NPS): No, he is the one that is throwing darts. Mr Obi is shooting from the hip. He is not looking, he is not taking an aim. He just shoots wildly like what we used to see in movies back in the day, in the “Wild-Wild-West”.

“He is not being rational, he is absolutely irrational in his thinking, and in his public commentary, for a man who was governor for eight years, who left nothing to remember in Anambra State by way of legacy or transformation.

“But all of a sudden, he has served as governor for eight years, he didn’t have the wisdom or the smarts to change Anambra State, to make Anambra the beacon, the example of governance in the country.

“But then he runs for president in 2023, and then now he didn’t win, he is sulking. Rather than get a perspective on what he did to lose so he can do better in the future, he would think that he can bring down the government by being maliciously deceptive.

“That is wrong. I am not somebody to go on the offensive in that manner, but Mr Obi has crossed the line so many times and I think that at this point, he has what is coming to him, whatever he gets, he needs to manage it.”