Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the threat to Peter Obi’s life by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
Atiku said the threat from Morka to Obi signalled a return to an authoritarian regime. He stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had become notorious for attacking and arresting dissent voices.
Recall that Henzodaily reported that Morka, in an interview on Saturday, accused Peter Obi of misinforming Nigerians, adding that he crossed the line.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku decried the APC government’s disdain for democracy and free speech. He noted that the Labour Party chieftain never stated anything contrary to the hardship Nigerians face daily occasioned by the current administration’s policies.
“The inflammatory remarks issued by the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, directed at Peter Obi, 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,” he said via his X account.
Apologize To Peter Obi
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanded that Morka explain to Nigerians what he meant by his statement against Obi.
He further lampooned the APC’s spokesman for likening his 2019 vice presidential candidate’s statement to Wild West scenario.
Atiku told the ruling party to issue a formal apology to the former governor of Anambra State.
“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,” he stated.
Recalls Mallam Mahdi Shehu’s Detention
Atiku Abubakar recalled that a social and political critic, Mahdi Shehu remains in detention for freedom of expression concerning an allegation that a French military base would be established in the Northern part of the country.
He called on Nigerians to intervene and demand an end to the persecution of dissent voices by the current administration.
“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 Bola Tinubu 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 added.