The Labour Party’s candidate in the last Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has strongly criticised Governor Monday Okpebholo over his recent threat against Mr Peter Obi.
Governor Okpebholo’s remarks directed at Mr Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, have drawn widespread condemnation from Nigerians across all walks of life.
The governor had warned Mr Obi against visiting the state without his express permission, stating that doing so would be “at his own peril”.
He further alleged that Mr Obi’s last visit to Edo State, during which he donated N15 million to a nursing school, triggered unrest in Benin City, resulting in the loss of lives.
In a response shared via X, Olumide Akpata described the Governor’s comments as “deeply troubling and totally unacceptable”, asserting that Mr Okpebholo lacked the authority to bar anyone, let alone Mr Obi, from entering the state.
“Edo people are known for being warm, open, and hospitable. We welcome visitors. We don’t chase them away, much less someone like Mr. Obi who came to make a modest, generous contribution by donating N15 million to an educational institution in our state,” Akpata wrote.
He stressed that Mr Obi does not require permission to visit Edo or any other state. “Not now, not ever,” he affirmed.
Akpata further advised the governor to focus on delivering good governance to the people of Edo State if he wished to earn the kind of goodwill Mr Obi enjoys from the public. He added that the governor’s poor sense of judgement was especially evident in issuing such a threat on the very day that ‘Obidients’ across Nigeria were marking Mr Obi’s birthday.
