Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo recently made a controversial statement saying that Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, must seek his permission before visiting Edo. This statement has caused anger among Nigerians.
Governor Okpebholo said last Friday that Obi is not allowed to enter Edo State without first informing him. He warned that Obi’s security would not be guaranteed if he failed to do so. The governor blamed Obi’s recent visit to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences on June 7 for triggering violence that allegedly led to the deaths of three people. During that visit, Obi donated N15 million to the school.
According to the governor, Obi’s visit caused unrest in Benin and resulted in the loss of lives. He warned that if anything bad happens to Obi in the state, it would be Obi’s fault. He said there is a new sheriff in town and Obi cannot come to Edo without his knowledge.
However, the Labour Party in Edo State has disagreed with the governor’s claims. In an interview, the state LP chairman, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, said there was no violence connected to Obi’s visit. He stated that any recent violence in the state was likely due to political court cases, not Peter Obi.
Ogbaloi said he had not heard of anyone dying in Edo because of Obi’s visit. He insisted that if any deaths had occurred due to that visit, the public would have known. He added that people in government sometimes make such accusations, but Obi cannot be blamed for any unrest.
The LP chairman further said that the governor does not have the right to stop Obi from visiting any part of Nigeria. He explained that if the governor was only concerned about following proper protocol, he should have expressed it more respectfully. Ogbaloi argued that Obi is a national figure who cannot be restricted from visiting any part of the country.
Civil society organizations and many Nigerians have also criticized the governor’s statement. Goodluck Ibem, President General of the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders, said no governor has the power to stop any Nigerian from moving around freely in the country.
Ibem stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of movement, and no political leader should violate that right. He said trying to ban someone from entering a state because of politics is wrong and harmful to national unity.
He warned that such statements could divide Nigerians and lead to hatred. He called on all leaders to encourage peace and respect for different political views. He urged Governor Okpebholo to withdraw his statement and adopt a more inclusive attitude.
Also speaking on the issue, popular singer and activist Charly Boy described the governor as power drunk. He said Governor Okpebholo is simply not serious with such a statement.
