*The ruling All Progressives Party dismisses Peter Obis allegation of threat to life as a figment of his imagination, as Felix Morka Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the party, ‘did not threaten Mr. Obi or his family or those around him or anyone’, stating though everyone has a right to free speech, ‘no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood’

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has dismissed a Mr. Peter Obi as a figment of his imagination, as Mr. Felix Morka Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the party, “did not threaten Mr. Obi or his family or those around him or anyone.”

The party, in a statement issued Tuesday, January 7, 2024, said: “Morka has absolutely no reason to, and has never, threatened Obi or anyone.”

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Elections, via his verified official X handle, recently alleged: 鈥淢y New Year Message has now led to threats to my life, my family, and those around me.

“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 consequences.鈥�

No threat to Obi, family or anyone, says Morka

Morka, who signed the statement, also noted: “Ostensibly, Mr. Obi鈥檚 allegation is in reference to Morka鈥檚 answer to a question during an interview on AriseTV鈥檚 THIS WEEK programme on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

“To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi or his family or those around him or anyone.”

The National Publicity Secretary further stated: “Morka has absolutely no reason to, and has never, threatened Obi or anyone. “Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely contains or suggests threat against Mr. Obi or anyone else.”

Full transcript of what Morka said on Arise TV

The ruling as well referenced the verbatim transcription of the relevant clip of the interview Morka granted on the Arise TV, a private television station, in Nigeria, to prove it’s point as follows:

Arise TV : You have actually hit back with a volley of attacks, calling Peter Obi a prophet of doom. Some of you have said he is always embarking on voodoo economics that are not in line with current realities. Don’t you think that is a slingshot that has gone beyond normal policking?”

Morka: “No, he is the one throwing darts. Mr. Obi is shooting from the hip. He is not looking, he is not taking an aim; he just shoots wildly like what we used to see in movies back in the days in ‘Wild, Wild West’.

“He is not being rational; he is absolutely irrational in his thinking, and in his commentary for a man who was Governor for eight years and left nothing to remember in Anambra State by way of legacy or transformation.

“But all of a sudden, he had served as Governor for eight years, he did’t have the wisdom or the smartness to change Anambra State; to the make Anambra the beacon, the example of governance in the country.

“But then he ran for President in 2023, and now that he didn’t win, he is sulking.

“Rather than get a perspective of what he did to lose so he can get better in future, he thinks that he can bring down the government by being maliciously deceptive.

“That is wrong. I’m not someone to go on the offensive in that manner. But Mr. Obi has crossed the line so many times.

“And, I think that, at this point, he has coming to him whatever he gets. He should manage it.鈥�

The party stated that Morka鈥檚 answer was in the exclusive context of the question.

According to APC, the last sentence of that answer that, 鈥淚 am not somebody to go on the offensive in that manner, but Mr. Obi has crossed the line so many times and I think that at this point he has coming to him, whatever he gets, he needs to manage it鈥�, was in specific and exclusive response to the question鈥檚 reference to 鈥減rophet of doom鈥� and 鈥渧oodoo economics鈥�.

The statement noted: “Again, nothing in that sentence constitutes or suggests a threat to Obi or anyone.

“While everyone has a right to free speech, no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood.”

The party also explained the right to free speech granted by our country鈥檚 Constitution is not Mr. Obi鈥檚 exclusive right but a right that is available to all Nigerians, including Morka.

“Mr. Obi cannot disseminate misinformation and demand or expect that no one should disagree or challenge his false narrative.

“Ours is a democracy where every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to agree or disagree with other political views or opinions. “More than any other Nigerian in this political dispensation, Mr. Obi has exercised his fundamental liberty to speak and disseminate his political views in person, in the formal and on social media,” Morka said.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC averred that 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 Obi or his opinions or position on any subject or matter of national conversation.”

He equally noted that several eminent and highly respected elder statesmen have been serially attacked, humiliated and bullied by Obi鈥檚 online followers.

“Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order,” he alleged.

Morka stated: “Obi must think himself to be Nigeria鈥檚 sacred cow, the super citizen,聽 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, even those who defeated him decisively in the last general election.

“Mr. Obi is not entitled to any monolithic or exclusive constitutional or extraterrestrial liberty over and above any other citizen.

“There鈥檚 no doubt that Mr. Obi has crossed the line of truth in his many assessments.

“As a candidate for the office of President in the last general election, Mr. Obi made very bold electoral promises to implement specific economic policies to tackle the country鈥檚 economic crisis.”

The statement noted as a example that “Mr Obi promised to abolish the system of fuel subsidy from day one. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu abolished the system of fuel subsidy on day one. Obi has continued to lambast and incite Nigerians against the Tinubu administration for doing exactly what he promised he would do if he was elected president. That is crossing the line of truth.

“Mr. Obi promised to abolish the dual foreign exchange rate system. President Tinubu has abolished the dual exchange rate system. Obi has continued to lambast and incite Nigerians against the Tinubu administration for doing exactly what he promised he would do if he was elected president. That is crossing the line of truth.”

The ruling party said: “Mr. Obi promised to transform Nigeria from a consumer to production economy. Under President Tinubu鈥檚 leadership, Nigeria now exports more petroleum and agricultural products than it imports with a record of three consecutive quarter massive trade surplus to show.

“Obi has continued to lambast and incite Nigerians against the Tinubu administration for doing exactly what he promised he would do if he was elected president. That is crossing the line of truth.”

On 鈥榗rossing the line鈥� of truth, falsehood peddling and responsible leadership

The statement explained that crossing the line of truth and peddling false narratives, arrogant unwillingness to acknowledge obvious markers of progress, mobilising outrage and stoking tension against the government are not exactly the most admirable hallmarks of leadership.

“Peter Obi’s constant flip-flops have crossed a critical line, exposing a disturbing lack of principled commitment.

“By altering his stance to suit his political interests and drumbeats of the vocal online supporters, Obi undermines his credibility and raises serious concern about his leadership capabilities.

“Nigeria deserves opposition leaders who uphold principle and engage in fact-based critiques rather than barefaced indulgence in opportunistic and manipulative politics.

“The trust of the people is sacred, and Obi’s vacillations demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice this trust for political gain,” Morka said.

He stated: “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.

“Mr. Obi鈥檚 allegation that Morka threatened his life is a self-evident malicious lie and an attention-seeking, playing-the-victim, emotional blackmail. His claim is patently false and reprehensible.”

The APC asserted: “By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr. Obi has libelled Morka in the extreme, and has incited his online mob to make death threats against Morka and members of his family. That is unacceptable.

“As a public figure, Mr. Obi bears a responsibility to provide accurate and truthful information.

“Instead, he has chosen to peddle falsehood and mislead Nigerians in quest for political currency and relevance.”

The APC National Publicity Secretary said: “We call on Mr. Obi to immediately set the record straight, withdraw his false allegation against Morka, and call his online supporters to order.

“Morka, stands ready to explore all available recourse mechanisms in valiant defence of his decency and impeccable reputation.”

Kindly Share This Story