The Labour Party (LP) caucus in the National Assembly has flayed the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, over bid to curtail the fundamental rights of the LP presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, to freedom of movement.
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In a joint statement by Senators Victor Umeh, Ireti Kingibe, Ezea Okey, and Tony Nwoye, on Saturday, the lawmakers said the governor remarks warning Obi not visit Edo State without his approval was “executive rascality and abuse of office.”
They called for an immediate retraction and apology to Nigerians.
“We humbly urge the Executive Governor of Edo State to quickly withdraw his unguarded statement threatening Mr Peter Obi’s life, freedom of movement, and personal security and tender an unreserved apology to all Nigerians for violating the Nigerian Constitution, which he swore to uphold,” the statement read in part.
The Daily Crucible reports that Governor Okpebholo, during a public event on Friday, in Uromi town while receiving defectors to the All Progressives Congress(APC), alleged that Obi’s previous visit to Edo State had plunged the area into violence that left no fewer than three persons dead.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed,” the governor said.
“For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” he added.
The remarks triggered scathing criticisms by and were seen by many as an attempt to intimidate and restrict the movements of a major political figure.
However, the LP Senators reminded the governor and the public that freedom of movement is a fundamental right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
“Mr Peter Obi is a citizen of Nigeria, and his movement is guaranteed and should not be curtailed by sheer executive lawlessness and impudence,” the statement continued.
Citing Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senators emphasised that every Nigerian has the right to move freely throughout the country without harassment or intimidation from public officials.
The lawmakers also called on security agencies to take immediate action on what they described as a veiled threat to Obi’s personal safety.
“We ask the Inspector General of Police and the Director General, Department of State Services, to take note of this threat,” they said.
They warned against the dangerous precedent such remarks could set, stressing the need to uphold democratic values and the rule of law.
“The Nigeria of this century cannot afford to condone executive rascality and abuse of office by public officers for the peace and harmony of our dear Country, Nigeria,” they concluded.
