The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has alleged threats to his life and the lives of his family members following his New Year message addressing the state of affairs in Nigeria.
Obi questioned whether his statements crossed any line, writing on his X handle on Monday: “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.”
According to Obi, he has been receiving a series of threatening messages since his January 3 media address in Abuja. He noted that one such threat came from a Mr. Felix Morka, who accused him of crossing the line and warned of potential consequences.
Obi wrote: “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.”
In his New Year message, Obi criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that it had not done enough to address the country’s worsening economic, political, and security challenges in the last 18 months. He called for “vigorous, positive actions” to bring relief to Nigerians, who he claimed are losing hope.
The former Anambra State governor delivered his address in a message titled, “Nigeria Needs Selfless and Exemplary Leadership.” He highlighted troubling economic statistics, stating: “Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline, thus: 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.”
Backing his claims with statistics, Obi noted that Nigeria’s GDP had declined from $574 billion in 2014, when it was Africa’s largest economy, to approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000. He also decried the worsening security situation, citing the displacement of countless communities and families now living in IDP camps.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) countered Obi’s assertions. Through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, the party dismissed the claims, describing them as misleading. Morka argued that Tinubu’s administration had shown steady progress in 18 months, citing achievements such as a massive trade surplus, increased stock market wealth, a surge in foreign direct investments, improved foreign reserves, and enhanced federal allocations to states and local governments.
The APC’s statement read: “In reality, 18 months later, the economy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress—massive balance of trade surpluses; trillions in stock market wealth creation; a surge in foreign direct investments as a result of increased confidence in the economy; enhanced foreign reserves; significant decline in debt servicing ratio from 90 percent to about 64 percent; higher incomes for farmers; and deliberate and patriotic efforts.”
