Threat to life: Atiku, LP carpet Tinubu, APC lampoons Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to tender a formal apology to Peter Obi and the Nigerian people over the use of inflammatory and “disgraceful language” in a recent interview.

Atiku disclosed this in a tweet posted on his official X account.

His demand was a fallout of Sunday’s interview on Arise Television, where the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, claimed that the former Anambra governor “crossed the line” in his persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that Obi deserved to get whatever came his way.

Morka also alleged that Obi was desperately seeking to incite Nigerians into bringing down the current government.

Morka’s perceived threat has since elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, with Obi’s supporters warning that nothing should happen to the former LP presidential candidate following the perceived threat.

Atiku asserted that such inflammatory remarks by Morka serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures.

The former vice president also said the face-off signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.

He said, “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.

“Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme. It is not merely the right but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, engage in meaningful dialogue, and allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints.

“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.”

In a similar development, the Labour Party on Tuesday gave the President seven days to reprimand and call Morka to order.

The ultimatum comes barely 24 hours after the ruling party and the Obedient Movement had a heated debate on Monday over the perceived threat to the life of the former Anambra governor.

In his petition on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Labour Party Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei, warned against targeting Obi over his New Year’s State of the Nation message.

The LP chieftain raised concerns that the manner Morka went about his statements showed that his disagreement went beyond party rivalry and the principle of free speech required in a democracy.

He said, “These statements, which target Peter Obi, a respected global figure and LP Presidential candidate in the last election, go beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to our democracy, peace, and unity.

“Your Excellency, as a key leader in the opposition for many years, you and the APC were beneficiaries of the freedoms and protections afforded by Nigeria’s democratic system under the then President Goodluck Jonathan, which allowed you to challenge the status quo and ultimately ascend to power.

“We, therefore, call on you to reprimand Mr Felix Morka for his inflammatory statements within the next seven days. Should Your Excellency choose not to act decisively by openly condemning Mr Morka’s statements, it will send a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community that your administration is either complicit in or indifferent to threats against democracy and political dissent.

“It is imperative for your administration to distance itself from any rhetoric or actions that threaten free speech, suppress opposition, or endanger the lives of political leaders.”

In what looks like a counter-allegation, Morka, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, called on the former Anambra governor to call his supporters to order.

Morka said he had become the target of many online trolls, which he claimed were from Obi’s supporters over his alleged inflammatory utterances.

According to him, there was nowhere he threatened the former governor in the controversial interview.

The statement read, “We call on Mr Obi to immediately set the record straight, withdraw his false allegation against Morka, and call his online supporters to order. Obi leads a restless band of online mob who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to other citizens who dare disagree or criticize his opinions on any matter of national conversation.

“Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order. To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi, his family or those around him or anyone. Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely suggests a threat against Mr Obi or anyone else.

“As the national spokesman of the ruling party, I will continue to hold Obi and other opposition actors accountable for their actions, just as they seek to, and should, hold our great party and administration accountable when truth and public trust are compromised.”

Meanwhile, a member of the APC National Working Committee, Tolu Bankole, has thrown his weight behind Morka, who he said was merely doing his job.

Bankole also chided Obi for playing the victim after allegedly inciting his online supporters to troll the APC spokesman.

The APC chieftain disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

The APC national leader, saddled with the responsibility of Persons living with Disabilities matters, stated that Morka was carrying out his official assignment as a committed spokesman.

He said, “I urge Mr Obi to stop playing the victim and focus on providing fact-based constructive opposition. The APC administration under President Bola Tinubu remains committed to nation-building and we welcome constructive criticisms grounded in truth.

“Let it be known that no amount of false allegations can distract the APC from its mandate of delivering good governance to the Nigerian people. It is the duty of the National Publicity Secretary to defend our government, President and APC policies.

“It is, however, troubling that Mr Obi, whose followers have gained notoriety for online bullying and issuing threats, would level such accusations while failing to address the toxic behaviours of his supporters.”

The APC chieftain said he reviewed the controversial video clips of the Arise TV interview and found no evidence of any threat to Obi or his family.

“I know Morka to be a man of peace who would never threaten anyone’s life. His comments were within the bounds of political discourse and in response to criticisms of our government. He has also discharged this role with the utmost professionalism, maturity and a commitment to truth,” Bankole said.

When contacted for reaction, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, vowed that his principal would not be intimidated by APC’s antics.

Ibrahim told The PUNCH that the former governor already had an indelible track record for holding leaders accountable.

He said, “Obi’s stance on criticising the government remains unchanged despite the threats against his life. He has shown no indication of backing down or toning down this path.

“In fact, his resolve to speak out against the government’s anti-people and deleterious policies seems to have strengthened.

“Given Peter Obi’s history of advocating for accountability and transparency, it’s unlikely that he will back down from criticising the government. Instead, he may continue to push for reforms and speak out against policies he disagrees with, even in the face of adversity.”