Death threats allegations: APC allay allegations as ‘malicious lies,’ as Atiku demands apology

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied responsibility for death threats to Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, even as former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come out in full support of the LP candidate.

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the controversy erupted on Monday when Peter Obi publicly claimed that he was being threatened due to his outspoken criticism of President Tinubu’s government.

The genesis brewed in an interview granted by Felix Morka, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to Arise TV.

During the interview, Morka had said Obi is an “irrational being,” accusing him of “crossing the line” with his criticisms of the current administration.

However, denying threat allegations, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka said Obi’s claims are malicious lies and a calculated attempt at emotional blackmail aimed at garnering public sympathy.

In a statement on Tuesday, Morka rejected Obi’s interpretation of his words, stating, “Mr. Obi must think of himself as Nigeria’s sacred cow, the super citizen quintessential, without blemish, beyond reproach, always right, never wrong, and endowed with the supreme and inalienable right to deride, castigate, intimidate, blackmail, and incite Nigerians against other political leaders who disagree with him.”

The APC spokesman went on to elaborate that Obi’s consistent criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration contradicted his own pre-election promises.

Morka made references to specific policy areas, including the abolition of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange rate, which both Obi and Tinubu had campaigned on, yet Obi continued to criticise the government for implementing them.

“Mr. Obi has crossed the line of truth. His flip-flopping has exposed a disturbing lack of principled commitment,” Morka stated.

Morka further accused Obi of misleading the public for political advantage, noting that Obi had promised to move Nigeria from a consumption-based economy to a production-driven one.

Reacting, Atiku on his verified X.com (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, described the statement as inflammatory remarks and the choice of words used by the APC’s spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has “crossed the line.”

Atiku wrote, “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.

“This threat against Obi, coupled with the prolonged detention of Mahdi Shehu, a prominent voice of dissent and others, signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.

“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.

“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.

“The case of Mallam Shehu, languishing in detention without any clear explanation for his continued imprisonment, adds to the growing concern about the erosion of freedoms in Nigeria. If there is anyone who has truly ‘crossed the line,’ it is the Tinubu administration, whose continuous vilification of opposition figures as mere irritants to be crushed is a dangerous precedent.

“It is now time for all men and women of goodwill to intervene, urging the @officialABAT government to recalibrate its approach to dealing with dissent and opposition. The time has come to put an end to this stifling of voices that are crucial to the health of any functioning democracy,” Atiku said.

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