Okpebholo Under Fire Over ‘Security Clearance’ Remark on Peter Ob
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has drawn widespread backlash following remarks that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, must obtain security clearance before visiting the state.
Critics, including senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and leaders of the Obidient Movement, have condemned the comment, describing it as a veiled threat and a dangerous affront to democratic rights.
Falana called on Obi to seek legal redress, saying Okpebholo’s statement violated the constitutional right to life and freedom of movement, warning of the implications in a country already grappling with mob justice and political intimidation.
The ADC described the governor’s comment as part of a growing pattern of opposition suppression by some APC governors, stressing that no Nigerian needs a “visa” to travel within their own country.
In a clarification issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the Edo State Government said the governor’s remarks were misinterpreted. The statement claimed that Okpebholo was merely advocating for security protocol, not hostility.
However, critics dismissed the explanation, with Dr. Yunusa Tanko of the Obidient Movement accusing the governor of spreading falsehoods, especially his claim that Obi once detained former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Tanko, who was then IPAC national chairman, said the incident was orchestrated by the PDP-led federal government at the time, not Obi.
He described Okpebholo as a “political greenhorn” and urged him to focus on governance, not misinformation.
