Director General, Labour Party Directorate of Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei, has called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly reprimand the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, over his alleged threat to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

The LP Chieftain said such a public intervention is necessary to demonstrate the President’s commitment to respecting democratic values, promoting peace and stability, and upholding global democratic standards.

Ngogbehei said the recent statements from Morka on Obi have gone beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to the country’s democracy, peace, and unity.

Morka had on Sunday in an interview on Arise Television claimed that the former Anambra governor had “crossed the line” in his recent criticism of President Tinubu’s administration.

The APC spokesman claimed that Obi was desperately seeking to incite Nigerians into bringing down the current government and subsequently ended his argument with a subtle threat of “he has coming to him whatever he gets.”

In an open letter on Tuesday, the LP Chieftain while reminding Tinubu of the freedom of expression he enjoyed during his days as an opposition, wondered why Obi would be threatened for just airing his opinion on the state of the nation.

“With all due respect, I write to you in my capacity as the Director General of the Labour Party Directorate of Mobilization and Integration.

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“The Labour Party has stood firm and strong as the leading opposition party in Nigeria and we wish to express grave concern over the recent unguarded and threatening remarks made by Mr. Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“These statements, which target H.E. Peter Obi, a respected global figure and the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, go beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to our democracy, peace, and unity.

“Your Excellency, you are uniquely positioned to appreciate the significance of a vibrant opposition in a democratic system. Your own political career is a testament to the critical role opposition plays in ensuring accountability, fostering development, and strengthening democracy.

“As a key leader in the opposition for many years, you and the APC were beneficiaries of the freedoms and protections afforded by Nigeria’s democratic system under the then President Goodluck Jonathan, which allowed you to challenge the status quo and ultimately ascend to power.”

Ngogbehei noted that the statements from Morka are not only a threat to the life of Obi but also an affront to the values of free speech, constructive criticism, and political pluralism.

He said the statements undermine the foundations of the country’s democracy and suggest a dangerous trend toward the suppression of opposition voices in the political landscape.

“We, therefore, call on you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader of the ruling APC, to publicly caution and reprimand Mr. Felix Morka for his inflammatory statements within the next seven (7) days,” he noted.

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“Should Your Excellency choose not to act decisively by openly condemning Mr. Morka’s statements, it will send a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community that your administration is either complicit in or indifferent to threats against democracy and political dissent.

“Such a stance would contradict the global tenets of democratic governance and tarnish Nigeria’s reputation as a nation striving to strengthen its democratic institutions.

“It is imperative for your administration to distance itself from any rhetoric or actions that threaten free speech, suppress opposition, or endanger the lives of political leaders. Leadership, Your Excellency, demands the courage to defend democracy not just in words but through action.

“As a leader who has greatly benefited from Nigeria’s democratic system, you are in a unique position to champion and protect the right to opposition and free speech. By taking swift and public action to caution Mr. Felix Morka, you will reaffirm your administration’s commitment to these values and set a precedent for political conduct in Nigeria.

“I trust in your wisdom and leadership to act in the best interest of our nation and to ensure that our democracy remains strong, inclusive, and resilient.”