Why Peter Obi must inform me before visiting Edo – Gov. Okpebolo clarifies | READ DETAILS

By Chinenye On Jul 21, 2025

Why Peter Obi must inform me before visiting Edo – Gov. Okpebolo clarifies | READ DETAILS

The Edo State governor, Monday Okpebolo, has denied threatening Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Okpebolo has been backlashed for insisting that Obi must inform him before coming to the state, warning that his security will not be guaranteed if he fails to do so.

The governor while speaking during a defection rally last week Friday, also mocked Obi for claiming not to “give shishi”, yet he donated N15Million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for the completion of projects in the school.

Okpebholo also claimed Obi’s visit to the state coincided with the resurgence of violence in the state.

However, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Sunday, said that his remarks were misinterpreted.

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The statement read;

“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to various misinterpretations surrounding the recent remarks made by Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, regarding the visit of Peter Obi to the state.

“It is imperative to state clearly that the governor did not issue any form of threat to Mr Obi, but rather emphasised the need for high-profile individuals, particularly politically exposed persons, to notify and seek security clearance from the governor before embarking on any public engagements within the state.

“As the Chief Security Officer of Edo State, it is the governor’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of all residents and visitors alike.

“This duty includes ensuring that adequate security measures are put in place during high-profile visits or events that may attract large crowds or media attention.

“When such protocols are ignored, it creates serious security vulnerabilities, not only for the visitor but also for citizens who may be caught in avoidable threats.

“Governor Okpebholo is not Peter Obi, who, as Governor of Anambra State, detained Nasir El-Rufai when he visited.

“Furthermore, the governor’s concerns should not be twisted for political mileage by individuals seeking to score cheap points.

“The state government will not fold its arms and allow politically motivated activities to endanger lives.

“We expect leaders, no matter how highly placed, to align with the protocols and security realities of the areas they visit.”

Earlier on Sunday, Falana had asked Okpebholo to withdraw the threats to the life of Obi.

In a statement, the senior lawyer noted that the threat to the life of Obi issued by the “new sheriff in town” in Edo State constituted a violation of Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples (Ratification and Enforcement), which guarantee the fundamental right of every citizen to life.

He said;

“However, if Governor Okpebholo does not withdraw the illegal threat because of sheer arrogance of raw power, Mr Peter Obi should proceed to file an application in the Benin Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to secure the enforcement of his fundamental right to life.

“Mr. Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country.”

Monday Okpebolo Peter Obi