National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Mary Idele Alile, has taken sides with the party’s Spokesperson, Mr Felix Morka, over allegations by Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, that the Spokesperson threatened his life and those of his family.
In a strongly worded statement signed by her on Tuesday, Alile described Mr Obi’s claims as inflammatory and baseless, noting that the APC and its leadership have always upheld the principles of democracy, free speech, and constructive criticism.
She accused the LP 2023 presidential candidate of deliberately misrepresenting Felix Morka’s remarks. She wondered why Obi, who regularly positioned himself as a champion of dialogue and peace, quickly escalated political commentary into a fabricated security concern.
The statement reads in parts: “As the APC National Women Leader, I stand firmly with Felix Morka, our National Publicity Secretary, whose statements have been unjustly twisted to suit Mr Obi’s narrative of victimhood. Mr Obi’s allegations that Morka threatened his life and family are baseless, inflammatory, and an attempt to distract Nigerians from his political shortcomings.
“Felix Morka’s response to Obi’s New Year address was a straightforward and well-articulated rebuttal of the misleading and often divisive rhetoric that Obi continues to propagate. It is disappointing that Obi has chosen to cry wolf instead of engaging in mature political discourse, fabricating threats where none exist.”
On why Obi’s claim holds no water, the Women Leader stated that Morka’s comments were public and transparent, devoid of any language that could be interpreted as a threat. Nigerians deserve better than calculated attempts to undermine public officials for cheap political sympathy.
She added that the APC, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, remains steadfast in upholding the tenets of democracy and that Morka’s remarks aligned with her party’s commitment to addressing misinformation and setting the record straight.
“Mr Obi’s recent statements distract from his inability to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress. Rather than address the glaring lack of structure and cohesion within his party, Obi deflects attention by targeting APC officials who diligently defend the truth.
“We urge Nigerians to remain focused on the nation’s developmental goals under the progressive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The APC will not be deterred by opposition antics designed to derail our mission.
“Let it be clear that Felix Morka spoke on behalf of millions of Nigerians tired of baseless criticism and ready to move forward under a government committed to action and results. I, Dr Mrs Mary Idele Alile, unequivocally support Felix Morka and denounce the desperate attempts to silence voices of truth within our party.”
