Edo: Okpebholo under fire over Obi’s threat

Okpebholo

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State’s threat against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 polls, Mr Peter Obi, is generating backlash, with many describing the governor’s comment as politiccal pettiness.

Last Friday, Okpebholo warned that Obi must never come to Edo without obtaining security clearance from him because the presidential hopeful’s last visit coincided with a resurgence of violence in the state.

His warning came after the LP presidential candidate visited Benin, the state capital, on July 7 and donated N15m to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for the completion of some projects in the school.
The governor spoke while receiving the last opposition federal lawmaker in the state, Marcus Onobun, into the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said: “That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15m. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance. His visit coincided with a resurgence of violence in the state, and this will not be tolerated.”

While expressing dismay over the development, the Igbo Community Association in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, said Okpebholo’s statement was reckless, unconstitutional and unbecoming of a public officeholder.
A statement signed by the group’s President General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, demanded an immediate retraction, saying the allegation against Obi was irresponsible, inflammatory and risked fuelling ethnic tension and polarisation.

The statement reads: “Governor Okpebholo must exercise greater caution in the manner he expresses himself, particularly in public forums. His recent comments are deeply disappointing and unbecoming of a governor who ought to act as a statesman

“It is saddening that, in the face of mounting socio-economic challenges, the governor appears more concerned with Mr Obi’s itinerary than with fulfilling the duties of his office.