Edo: Atiku, Wike Clash Over Obi

Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that any threat against his former presidential running mate, Mr. Peter Obi, is a threat to the entire opposition.

In a tweet yesterday, Atiku said: “Let it be known that a threat against Peter Obi or any of us is a threat against ALL of us -AA!”

Atiku’s statement followed a warning by Governor Monday Okpebholo, who said Obi must not visit the State again without security clearance.

He linked a recent visit by Obi to a security breach that allegedly led to the killing of three people.

The comment by Okpebholo, made during a public event last Friday, has drawn widespread criticism, with many accusing the governor of attempting to intimidate political opponents.

Governor Okpebholo, has, however, reiterated that he has no regret asking the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) to seek clearance before entering the state.

The governor who spoke during the official commissioning ceremony of the New Edo Line buses in Benin City, noted that his comment has been widely criticised even on the social media but that he is not disturb by that adding that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he deserves to be informed so that he can provide the necessary security for the individual entering his state.

He stated that what he said was not new because he was once told by the former Commissioner of Police in the state at the airport that whenever he was coming to the state, he should notify the police so that they can provide him adequate security.

He recalled that his failure to adhere to such a directive by a Commissioner of Police during the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki caused the death of his Police orderly, Inspector Inspector Akor Onu at the Benin Airport.

According to him, because of the rain, I am not going to talk too much. Even when they said I don’t talk, just one word, one sentence everybody was crying.

“What I said was simply an advice. I said don’t come to Edo State without telling me. If telling him to notify me as the chief security officer of the State is a crime, so be it.

“I have no regrets about it. I repeat that before coming to Edo State he should notify me. It is not a threat.

“Today let me not dwell on things that are not relevant. This is not relevant. To Edo people we have made our statement clear.

“I don’t know which one is paining them. It is because I said they don’t have shishi? Do they not say they don’t have shishi. So, why are they crying?

“I went through this same process before in 2024. I was advised when I came into the Benin Airport by the then Commissioner of Police in the State under governor Godwin Obaseki.

“The Commissioner said you are here. I answered yes I am here. He said please remain at the Airport. I ignored that advice, and I went out. At the gate of the airport my police man was shot dead right before my eyes, Inspector Akor Onu.

“I have security reports, and I have advised the former Governor of Anambra State. If he likes, let him take it and if he likes let him not take it. If he likes let him dwell on social media, it doesn’t concern me”, he said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyson Wike, who was the guest of honour at the commissioning of the New Edo Line Transport Service, backed Governor Okpebholo on security protocols for high profile Nigerians, like the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.

He insisted that high-profile Nigerians like Peter Obi need to inform the governor of any state about his visit to ensure his security is guaranteed.

He noted that when Obi visited him while he was the governor of Rivers States, he secured a permit before embarking on that journey. He wondered why he did not observe the same protocol when he visited Edo State.

Commissioning the fleet of buses,  Wike warned those blowing the statement out of proportion to stop playing politics with the governor’s comment, stressing that he strongly aligns himself with the Edo State governor.

The FCT Minister apologized to the people of the state for supporting and working to ensure that Godwin Obaseki became the governor of the state.