The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has alleged that his life is under threat following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his New Year’s message.

Obi’s claims came after remarks attributed to Felix Morka, the national spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during a recent interview. Morka was quoted as saying, “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him, whatever he gets.”

During a press conference on Thursday, Obi decried the deteriorating political, economic, security, and healthcare conditions in the country. He expressed concern that Nigeria’s situation continues to worsen, despite the government’s assertions of progress.

“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline; thus, our national metrics tell a disconcerting story,” Obi said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s troubling statistics: “Nigeria remains one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty. The situation has deteriorated significantly over the past 18 months under the current administration.”

Obi also lamented the country’s economic decline, stating, “As a nation, we have fallen from being the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in 2014, to now ranking fourth on the continent. Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000.”

Reacting to Morka’s statement in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Obi questioned whether he had truly “crossed the line” and revealed that he had received threats against his life, family, and associates since delivering his New Year’s message.

“If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum. However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift towards undemocratic practices,” Obi wrote.

He added, “We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed. May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children.”