Gov Okpebholo’s Threat to Peter Obi is Executive Rascality – Wabara

Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has condemned Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for threatening the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and attempting to restrict his movement within the state, describing the action as “executive rascality taken too far.”

Wabara’s reaction follows a recent warning by Governor Okpebholo, who stated that Obi must obtain security clearance before visiting Edo, adding that the state could not guarantee his safety otherwise. “If Peter Obi wants to come here, he should seek proper security clearance. We cannot guarantee his safety otherwise. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking,” Okpebholo had warned.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Senator Wabara described the governor’s remarks as a clear overreach of executive powers, noting that no state governor has the constitutional authority to restrict the lawful movement of any Nigerian citizen.

Wabara warned that such “provocative and unguarded utterances” could inflame ethnic tensions between Edo citizens and the Igbo community to which Obi belongs. He emphasized that Section 41 (1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country.

“It smacks of executive impunity, power intoxication, political insanity, and gross abuse of office for an elected Governor to exhibit such intolerable dictatorial tendencies,” Wabara stated.

He further accused Okpebholo of either gross ignorance of constitutional provisions or a reflection of his “academic hollowness and ineptitude.”

Wabara demanded a public apology from the Edo Governor to Peter Obi and a written guarantee of the former presidential candidate’s safety on any future visits to the state. He also called on political office holders to exercise restraint and foster unity, rather than sow division through inflammatory rhetoric.

Recalling a similar threat issued to Obi by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, Wabara urged President Bola Tinubu to call APC governors to order and cautioned against attempts to suppress opposition voices as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.

“No one should push Nigeria toward the brink through political overzealousness. National peace and unity must take precedence over partisan interests,” he warned.