My New Year Message Has Attracted Threats To My Life, Obi Alleges
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has claimed that his life has been threatened as a result of his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his New Year’s address.
Obi’s claim follows a recent interview with Felix Morka, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national spokesperson.
According to Morka, “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets”.
Obi criticised the country’s political, economic, and security situations, as well as its healthcare system, during his new year press conference on Thursday.
According to the former governor of Anambra State, Nigeria’s political, economic, and security situation is deteriorating, despite official promises of improvement in several areas.
“Our national difficulties are plainly deteriorating. Our nation’s fortunes are clearly in reverse. “The indices clearly indicate our decline; thus, our national indices tell a troubling story,” Obi explained.
“Nigeria is one of the world’s poorest countries, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and over 150 million in multidimensional poverty. The situation has deteriorated substantially in the last 18 months under the current administration.
“As a nation, we have plummeted from being Africa’s greatest economy in 2014, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of more than $3,500, to fourth place on the continent. Our current GDP is less than half of what it was a decade ago, at around $200 billion, with a per capita income of only $1,000.”
Obi responded to Morka’s remark with a post on his X account on Monday, asking if he had “really crossed the line” after getting threats against his life, family, and associates following his New Year’s message.
He urged anyone who believes he has over the line to report it out to him, indicating his commitment to maintaining decorum.
The former governor committed to speak truthfully, citing the country’s “drift towards undemocratic practices.”
His tweet adds, “I ask the question because my New Year’s message has resulted in threats to my life, family, and those around me.”
While I’ve gotten a variety of messages, one, Mr. Felix Morka, has gone so far as to accuse me of “crossing the line” and warned that I’ll face the repercussions.
“If I have actually over the line, I encourage anyone to point it out, as I am still devoted to maintaining civility. However, I will not be hushed in my determination to speak truthfully, particularly as our country continues to move towards undemocratic practices.
“We are gradually becoming an authoritarian and repressive regime, with freedom of expression being systematically stifled. May God help us build a better and more free society for the sake of our children.”
Have I actually crossed the line?
I pose the question because my New Year’s message has resulted in threats to my life, family, and those around me. Mr Felix Morka has accused me of “crossing the line” among other letters I have received.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi), January 6, 2025.