• It’s dangerous to democracy, says ADC
• HURIWA, Falana demand retraction, apology
• I was misinterpreted, Edo gov backtracks
• Obi thanks Nigerians for show of love
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and his Benue counterpart, Hyacinth Alia, are contending with not only state and federal lawmakers under the Labour Party (LP) but also the majority of Nigerians for threatening the presidential candidate of LP in 2023, Peter Obi.
Obi’s sin was daring to enter their state for reasons they deemed political, without express permission from them.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemned the reported restriction order allegedly issued by Okpebholo as undemocratic, dangerous and reflective of growing authoritarian tendencies among some APC governors.
Pro-democracy and civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), expressed disappointment that some governors assumed the positions of monarchs and threatening citizens of Nigeria.
Also, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, described Okpebholo’s remarks as a brazen violation of the constitutional right to life and called for an immediate retraction and public apology.
But the Edo governor denied allegations of banning Obi from entering the state. The governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said his earlier remarks were never intended as an attack, adding that it was a misinterpreted expression of official protocol.
Meanwhile, Obi thanked Nigerians for the show of love, goodwill, and good wishes he received on his 64th birthday, saying the gestures reaffirm his faith in the kindness and resilience of Nigerians.
Few weeks ago, Alia, in a notice signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, declared that he was not expecting any august visitor and warned that any group or high-profile individual seeking to enter the state for visits must reconsider, adding that the safety of such visitors could not be guaranteed.
Similarly, last Friday, Okpebholo warned Obi against entering the state without prior notification and approval.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the ADC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused Okpebholo of attempting to suppress political opposition and violate the constitutional right of free movement guaranteed to all Nigerian citizens.
“This is not the first time an APC governor has made pronouncements suggesting that opposition figures are not welcome in their state,” Abdullahi said. “Nigeria is a free country. We do not need a visa or anyone’s permission to move within our own nation. This kind of rhetoric borders on monarchy, not democracy, and must be stopped before it takes deeper root.”
Abdullahi warned that such actions, if left unchecked, could escalate and pose serious threats to Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
HURIWA, which carpeted the duo for equating themselves to absolute monarchs by issuing illegal threats to harm Obi should he and his entourage visit their states, stated that under the constitutional democracy, no political office holder has the power to limit citizens of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms just as it condemned “the climate of political intolerance” displayed in the statement by the Edo governor.
The National Coordinator, HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said: “We wonder how the generosity of Obi has become a source of consternation for the Edo governor when, in fact, the governor should be at the forefront of encouraging donations for charitable causes in his state.
“It is totally illogical for the Edo governor to try to manufacture a direct nexus between Obi’s visit and the spikes in crime in the state.”
On his part, Falana described the governor’s remarks as a brazen violation of the constitutional right to life and called for an immediate retraction and public apology.
The SAN, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), decried the statement as a direct threat to Obi’s life, stressing that such utterances were not only reckless but unconstitutional.
He said, “The threat to the life of Peter Obi issued by the ‘new sheriff in town’ in Edo constitutes a violation of Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the fundamental right to life.”
He, therefore, called on the governor to publicly withdraw the threat, apologise to Obi, and assure him of his safety within Edo. Anything short of that, he warned, would amount to an abuse of executive power and a failure of leadership.
In the event the governor refuses to recant, Falana advised Obi to seek immediate legal redress.
While clarifying his controversial statement, which attracted strong backlash from LP senators, the Obidient Movement and civic groups across the country, Okpebholo stressed that Edo “remains open and welcoming” to all Nigerians, irrespective of political alignment, ethnicity or religious belief.
He noted his commitment to unity and inclusivity, but was merely emphasising the importance of security protocol for high-profile visits in politically sensitive climates.
The remarks, the state government added, should not be seen through the lens of hostility or exclusion.
Meanwhile, in a heartfelt message entitled ‘Thank You All’, Obi acknowledged supporters worldwide, with special mention of Nigerian youths, the Obidient Movement, and members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for their compassion-driven initiatives.
Grateful, Obi reminded the public that he does not celebrate birthdays, choosing instead to channel all such goodwill into service for the underprivileged.
Reflecting on past birthdays, Obi shared how he consistently turned proposed lavish celebrations into opportunities for impact; from redirecting a N120 million birthday gift to build classrooms in Agulu, Ekwulobia and Abatete, to converting a planned N20 million party into the donation of 200 desktop computers to schools, his message was clear: “Celebration should uplift others.”
