A former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has waded into the face-off between the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 elections, Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its ruling All Progressives Congress.
Atiku’s intervention is coming following lamentation by Obi that some supporters of Tinubu and let chieftains of the APC were dishing out threats to his life over his New Year message.
Obi had in his New Year remarks flayed President Tinubu for worsening Nigerians’ woes, arguing that many Nigerians were plunged into deeper financial and economic meltdown in 2024.
Not long had Obi made these comments in Abuja while addressing journalists that loyalists of Tinubu started going for his jugular.
They condemned him for arrogating wisdom of governance to himself alone.
However, Atiku expressed strong disapproval of the remarks made by the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, against Peter Obi, where Morka claimed that Obi “crossed the line” in his assessment and criticism of the policies and programmes of the Tinubu-led Federal Government.
Atiku described the comments made by Morka as a troubling indicator of the ruling party’s drift towards authoritarianism.
He further accused President Tinubu of attempts to silence critical opposition figures in the country.
According to the PDP chieftain, ”If anyone has truly ‘crossed the line,’ it is the Tinubu-led government, which seems intent on crushing opposition figures rather than engaging them in meaningful dialogue.”
In a statement posted on X platform Tuesday, Atiku said such rhetoric betrays a deep disdain for democratic principles and undermines the values of constructive dialogue in a pluralistic society.
“The choice of words, particularly the ominous phrase ‘crossed the line,’ is not just undemocratic but also alarming. It hints at an authoritarian mindset where dissenting voices are seen as threats to be silenced rather than contributors to governance,” he pointed out.
He said in any true democracy, the government’s critics play a vital role in ensuring accountability and transparency, noting that attempts to stifle these voices only serve to erode public trust and weaken democratic institutions.
“This kind of language is not only reckless but unbecoming of a party that claims to uphold democratic values. Peter Obi, like any opposition leader, has the right to advocate for accountability and good governance without being subjected to threats or ridicule,” Atiku added.
Condemning Morka’s disparaging characterisation of Obi’s calls for dialogue, which the APC spokesperson likened to “a lawless Wild West scenario,” Atiku expressed concerns about the detention of Mahdi Shehu, a vocal critic of the current administration, who has been ‘held without clear justification’.
Atiku described Shehu’s situation as part of a “pattern of silencing dissenting voices.”
Atiku called on the APC to clarify Morka’s statement, particularly the veiled threat that Obi “must be ready for whatever comes his way.”
“Such a chilling insinuation demands an immediate explanation. The ruling party must demonstrate its commitment to democracy by retracting this inflammatory rhetoric and apologizing to Peter Obi and the Nigerian people,” he demanded.
