Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to withdraw his threat against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Governor Okpebholo, during a public event on Friday, warned that Obi must not enter Edo State without prior security clearance, alleging that violence followed the LP leader’s last visit.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15 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,” the governor said.
In a statement on Sunday, Falana condemned the remarks, describing them as unconstitutional and dangerous.
“The threat to Mr. Peter Obi’s life by the ‘new sheriff in town’ in Edo State violates Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the right to life,” Falana stated.
He added that under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, the security and welfare of the people are the primary purpose of government. Therefore, Governor Okpebholo should retract his statement, offer a public apology to Obi, and guarantee his safety in Edo State.
Falana also advised Obi to seek legal redress if the governor fails to retract the threat.
“If Governor Okpebholo refuses to withdraw the illegal threat out of sheer arrogance, Mr. Obi should file an application before the Federal High Court in Benin to enforce his fundamental right to life,” he said. “This should be done urgently, given the rising incidence of mob justice and extrajudicial killings in the country.”
