Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described as inflammatory the remarks issued by the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, against Mr PeterObi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections.
Atiku in a statement Tuesday said the statement served as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures.
The presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election further described the threat against Obi, coupled with the prolonged detention of Mahdi Shehu, a prominent voice of dissent and others, as a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.
The statement reads: “The choice of words used by the APC’s spokesperson, particularly the ominous suggestion that Obi has crossed the line reveals an alarming disdain for democratic principles. Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme.
“A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability.
“It is not merely the right, but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, to engage in meaningful dialogue, and to allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints. Instead, we are faced with a chilling threat that suggests Obi must “be ready for whatever comes his way.
“What, exactly, does Mr. Morka imply by this? It is imperative that the ruling party provides clarity on this disturbing insinuation,” he asked?
