Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has expressed concerns over threats to his life and that of his family following the release of his New Year statement, which analysed the current state of affairs in Nigeria.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi questioned whether his actions had gone too far: “Have I really crossed the line?”
He continued, “I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me.”
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Since addressing the media in Abuja on January 3, Obi revealed that he had received a series of threatening messages, including one from Mr. Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who accused him of “crossing the line” and warned that he would “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,” Obi wrote.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the country’s shift towards authoritarianism: “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 statement, Obi had sharply criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the government had done little to address Nigeria’s “worsening” economic, political, and security challenges over the last 18 months. He called for “vigorous, positive actions” from the administration to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, many of whom he believed were losing hope.
The former governor of Anambra State further elaborated in a message titled *”Nigeria Needs Selfless and Exemplary Leadership”* on January 3 in Abuja, arguing that the political, economic, and security situation in the country was deteriorating daily despite the government’s claims of progress.
Obi outlined alarming statistics, stating that over 100 million Nigerians were living in extreme poverty, with more than 150 million facing multidimensional poverty. He also noted that Nigeria’s GDP had fallen significantly, from being the largest economy in Africa in 2014 to now ranking fourth on the continent. Obi claimed that the country’s GDP was now less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000. Furthermore, he highlighted that Nigeria remained one of the most insecure nations globally, with countless communities displaced and living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
However, the APC dismissed Obi’s claims. Morka, in a Sunday interview on Arise Television, accused Obi of “crossing the line” with his criticism of President Tinubu’s administration. He argued that the former governor was “desperately seeking to incite Nigerians” against the current government.
Morka added, “Mr Obi is shooting from the hip. He is not looking or taking an aim. He just shoots widely like the Wild Wild West movies we used to see back in the day. He is absolutely irrational in his thinking about a man who was governor for eight years and left nothing to remember in Anambra State by way of legacy.”
The APC spokesman also claimed that Obi’s failure to win the 2023 election had led him to “sulk” and resort to malicious tactics to undermine the government. Morka concluded with a subtle threat: “Mr Obi has crossed the line so many times, and I think that at this point, he has come to him whatever he gets.”
