The recent outburst by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, restricting the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, from entering the state without his approval has continued to attract condemnation from Nigerians.
DAILY POST recalls that Governor Okpebholo on Friday last week barred the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election from visiting the state without approval, declaring that Obi’s security may not be guaranteed if he does otherwise.
The governor claimed that Obi’s visit to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences on June 7, where he donated N15 million for the completion of projects in the school, triggered the resurgence of violence, which, according to him, led to the death of at least three persons.
“There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed.
“If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking,” the governor burst out.
“After he left, there was unrest in Benin, and three people lost their lives. That’s why I’m saying this: tell Obi not to step into Edo without informing me first.”
Obi’s visit did not cause unrest – Edo LP counters Governor Okpebholo
The Labour Party in the state has dismissed claims by the governor that Obi’s recent visit to the state caused unrest that led to the death of three persons.
In an interview with DAILY POST, the Labour Party Chairman in the state, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, dismissed the governor’s claim, stating that any violence or death recently recorded in the state should be attributed to the “court war” going on in Edo.
According to him, there was no record of any violence or stampede when the party’s former presidential candidate visited.
“I’m not aware of any incident of people dying in Edo State. If anyone had died because of Obi’s visit, we would all know.
“And the truth is that if anyone actually died out of violence recently, it is because of the court war they are running in Edo State,” he said.
According to the LP chairman, “many of them in the government are people of such characters, so whatever happened cannot be attributed to Obi’s visit.”
Obi cannot be restricted – Edo Labour Party
Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi also told DAILY POST in a telephone interview that the governor lacks the power to restrict Peter Obi’s movement, stressing that Governor Okpebholo’s warning was contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
According to him, if the governor was only bothered about protocol, he would have relayed his concerns respectfully.
He said, “While I agree that a person of Obi’s personality must be noted whenever he visits, I don’t agree with the governor, who appears to be seeking for approval.
“Obi is a prominent figure who cannot be restricted from any part of the country. Even if the governor was talking about protocol, he should have said it in a way that shows respect.”
CSOs, Obidients, others boil over Okpebholo’s warning
DAILY POST reports that there has been a gale of uproar across the country as individuals and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) condemned the governor’s move.
In an interview with DAILY POST, the President General of Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), Goodluck Ibem, condemned the development, stating that “no governor possesses the constitutional authority to prevent any Nigerian from visiting any state.”
According to Ibem, such statements are not only divisive but also fundamentally unconstitutional and undemocratic.
He said, “The right to movement is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the freedom to reside and move freely throughout the country.
“The assertion that any individual, including a prominent political figure, should be barred from visiting a state is an affront to this cardinal principle of our democracy.
“Statements that attempt to restrict access to our public space on the basis of political affiliations or personal sentiments pose a serious threat to national unity and democratic norms.
“They sow seeds of division among citizens and foster an environment of intolerance. Allowing such rhetoric to stand unchallenged sets a detrimental precedent that undermines the very essence of our democracy, which thrives on open dialogue, inclusion, and respect for differing opinions.
“As Nigerians, we must collectively uphold the values of democracy, which include tolerance, respect for individual rights, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.
“We call upon all political leaders and citizens alike to focus on fostering unity and understanding rather than promoting divisive narratives that serve to create barriers among us.
“We urge Governor Okpebholo to reconsider his statements and embrace a more inclusive approach that recognizes and respects the rights of all Nigerians to freely move, engage, and collaborate within our diverse and vibrant nation.”
Also, when contacted by DAILY POST, popular singer and activist Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, said the governor is power drunk.
Charly Boy, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi, simply said Governor Okpebholo is “very unserious.”
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