Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly denied allegations made by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, claiming he issued threats against Obi’s life and family.
In a social media post titled “Have I Really Crossed the Line?” shared on Monday, Obi alleged that his New Year message criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration had led to threats, including one allegedly from Morka. According to Obi, Morka accused him of “crossing the line” and warned him to expect consequences.
Obi’s allegations referenced comments Morka made during an Arise TV interview on Sunday, where he remarked, *“Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and he has what’s coming to him. Whatever he gets, he should manage it.”*
Reacting to the claims in a statement on Tuesday, Morka dismissed the accusations as “self-evident malicious lies” and accused Obi of engaging in “attention-seeking, playing-the-victim, and emotional blackmail.”
“To be clear, I did not threaten Mr. Obi, his family, or anyone else. Nothing I said during that interview remotely constitutes a threat,” Morka stated, insisting that his comments were taken out of context.
Morka provided a detailed account of the interview, clarifying that his remarks were directed at Obi’s political conduct and not as a personal threat. He accused Obi of spreading misinformation and urged Nigerians to remain discerning.
In his statement, Morka defended his criticism of Obi, stating, “Rather than reflect on his political shortcomings, Mr. Obi continues to disseminate malicious narratives to mislead Nigerians.” He also emphasized the importance of free speech as a democratic right but warned against using it to spread falsehoods.
The exchange has sparked public debate, with many calling for restraint in political discourse. Morka reiterated his commitment to open dialogue but stressed that no one, including Obi, has the monopoly on free speech or the right to mislead the public without challenge.
