The Kaduna State Police Command has warned that planned rally by supporters of 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to celebrate his 64 birthday poses significant risk to peace of the state.
The Command also banned the rally, warning that if allowed, it could plunge the state into violent clashes and breakdown of law and order.
This is coming barely less than 24 hours after the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, sent a powerful warning message to Mr Peter Obi not to step into Edo State without getting a clearance from him.
The Daily Crucible reports that Okpebholo gave the warning in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state while receiving a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the House of Representatives representing Esan West/Igueben/Central, Hon Marcus Onobun who had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Governor alleged that the last time Mr Peter Obi visited Edo state, where he donated N15m to a nursing school, three people lost their lives afterwards following a crisis that erupted in the area.
“He came the other day and donated N15m. By the time he left after donating the money, there was crisis and three people died in Benin. Tell Obi he should not come to Edo without telling me,” Okpebholo had said.
Similarly, the police command threatened to arrest any individual or group who goes ahead with the planned birthday rally in Kaduna for Obi in defiance of its directive.
It urged the organisers of the Obi rally to shelve the event to avoid compromising public safety and to prevent any hijack by miscreants.
Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, said security concerns and intelligence reports have shown that “certain criminal elements were planning to infiltrate and hijack the proposed rally, using it as a platform to cause disruption, incite violence, and disturb the prevailing public peace in the state.
The Command also explained that the timing of the rally clashed with political party primaries already scheduled for the same day, which were duly communicated to the Police in line with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) protocols.
“The parties’ primaries for the forthcoming bye-election in the state are scheduled by INEC to take place on the same date as the proposed rally, and the parties have formally notified the Police of their event, in line with established protocols,” the statement read.
Police added that, “The planned rally is expected to overlap with and disrupt several areas designated for the conduct of the other political parties’ primaries, thereby posing a significant risk of tension, clashes, and breakdown of law.”
While acknowledging the right of citizens to associate and celebrate political leaders, the Police emphasised that political gatherings remain suspended across the state until INEC officially declares the commencement of political campaigns.
“The Kaduna State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents and will not hesitate to take necessary legal action against any individual or group found violating this directive,” DSP Hassan added.
