Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a stern warning to Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cautioning him against entering Edo State without prior security clearance.

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Speaking on Friday, Governor Okpebholo referenced Obi’s recent visit to Benin City on July 7, during which the former Anambra State governor donated ₦15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences to support ongoing projects.

 

The governor, however, condemned the visit, alleging that Obi’s presence in the state coincided with a resurgence of violence, which reportedly claimed multiple lives.

 

“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 million. 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,” Okpebholo declared.

 

He emphasized that any visit to the state must be properly communicated to security agencies, especially in the wake of recent unrest.

 

Governor Okpebholo made these remarks during a political event in Benin, where he also welcomed former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun, into the All Progressives Congress (APC). Describing Onobun’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the “final nail in the coffin” of the opposition in Edo, the governor declared that the APC was now fully in control of the state.

 

“We are not lobbying anyone to join APC; they are coming because they see the results of our governance. In 2027, 2.5 million votes from Edo are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu,” he stated.

 

The governor further criticized the opposition, accusing its key figures of corruption and mismanagement. He claimed that some of them were directly responsible for failed infrastructure projects and insecurity across the country.

 

He also took a swipe at the PDP, saying, “Last week, we finally buried the PDP in Edo State. I saw someone crying at Ring Road, talking about having 65 per cent. That is what we call social media winning. When I said I would become the Governor, I meant it. Today, we are turning Edo into a construction site, and they can see it.”

 

Governor Okpebholo’s remarks have since sparked mixed reactions across political circles in the state.