They want me dead for criticising Bola Tinubu govt – Peter Obi raises alarm

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, has raised an alarm that his life is under threat due to his critical stance on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Obi made this claim in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday. His post followed recent remarks from Felix Morka, the National Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who accused Obi of repeatedly crossing the line with his comments and suggested that any consequences he faces are self-inflicted.

The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over what he described as Nigeria’s drift toward authoritarianism. According to Obi, the country is increasingly becoming a repressive state where dissent and freedom of expression are under attack.

“Have I really crossed the line? I ask this question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of ‘crossing the line’ and warned that I will face the consequences,” Obi stated.

He shared a link to his New Year message video and invited the public to watch it and judge for themselves whether his remarks warranted such a reaction.

“I find it necessary to share this message again and urge everyone who has not seen it to watch:

youtube.com/watch?v=waGknJ…

“If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum,” he added.

Obi further lamented the shrinking space for free speech in Nigeria, stating that democratic values are being systematically eroded. He emphasized his determination to continue speaking out against what he perceives as undemocratic practices, despite the risks involved.

“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,” Obi tweeted.