Widespread outrage has followed a recent warning by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, directed at 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, cautioning him not to enter the state without prior approval from the state government.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, condemned the governor’s outburst, describing it as a clear reflection of the tragic state of Nigerian politics.
“You can like or choose not to like @PeterObi but a state governor threatening a private citizen unprovoked is the tragic pass in which #Nigerian politics finds itself at.
It is tragically condemnable,” Odinkalu wrote. Governor Okpebholo’s comments, which were made during a gathering of political loyalists in a viral video circulating on social media, have sparked widespread criticism.
The governor, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), openly warned that Peter Obi’s security would not be guaranteed if he visited Edo State without prior notification.
“This message is for the man who claims he has no ‘shishi’,” Okpebholo said, referencing Obi’s famous quip about living a frugal lifestyle.
“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 also mocked Obi’s previous visit to the state where he reportedly donated N15 million, questioning the source of the funds and insinuating hypocrisy in Obi’s public declarations about living modestly.
“He came the other day and gave out N15 million. A man who claims to have no money, where did he get that from?” Okpebholo asked. “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.” In April, Peter Obi also cancelled his scheduled visit to Benue State, citing a cautionary statement issued by the state government as the reason for shelving the trip.
Obi, who was expected in Benue as part of a humanitarian outreach, expressed disappointment over the political undertones surrounding the visit, saying the move to halt his activities reflected a growing trend of politicising charitable efforts in the country.
In a statement titled “Notice regarding an unscheduled visit to Benue State”, Governor Hyacinth Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, declared that the government was unaware of Obi’s visit and could not guarantee his safety.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” the statement read.
The governor further warned that any individual or group intending to visit IDPs must obtain written permission from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, cautioning that unsanctioned visits could be construed as political gatherings.
In response, Obi explained via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that his visit, part of a two-day tour beginning in Plateau State, was purely humanitarian.
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