Felix Morka, spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he did not threaten the life of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023.
On Monday, the former governor of Anambra state said his life is under threat because of his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In his New Year message to Nigerians, Obi expressed concern over the hardship being experienced by citizens and “institutional corruption”.
But Morka responded, calling the former presidential candidate a “prophet of doom” and that “he has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets” – prompting Obi’s claim of threat to his life.
In a statement on Tuesday, the APC spokesperson said Obi should stop peddling falsehood.
“While everyone has a right to free speech, no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood,” he said.
“The right to free speech granted by our country’s Constitution is not Mr. Obi’s 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.”
The APC spokesperson alleged that the former governor leads a “mob” who issues “death threats” to anyone who disagrees with him.
“Many eminent and highly respected elder statesmen have been serially attacked, humiliated and bullied by Obi’s online followers. Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order,” he said.
“Obi must think himself to be Nigeria’s sacred cow, the super citizen, 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.”
Morka said Obi has incited people against him by claiming that his life was threatened.
“That is unacceptable. As a public figure, Mr. Obi bears a responsibility to provide accurate and truthful information,” he said.
