Obi raises alarm over threat to life after New Year message

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has allegedly received threats on his life after criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his New Year’s speech.

Obi’s accusation comes after Felix Morka, the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) national spokesperson, made a claim in a recent interview.

“Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets,” according to a comment from Morka.

Obi bemoaned the nation’s political, economic, security, and healthcare conditions during his press conference on Thursday, the first day of the new year.

The former Anambra State governor said that the political, economic, and security situation of Nigeria is worsening daily, despite the 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.”

In a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi responded to Morka’s remarks by asking if he had “really crossed the line” after receiving threats on his associates, family, and life after his New Year’s message.

Declaring his dedication to maintaining civility, he urged anyone who believes he has gone too far to point it out to him where he did.

The former governor further pledged that he would not back down from his determination to speak the truth, particularly as the nation “drifts towards 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.”