Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over the controversy surrounding Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent visit to Benin City.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new Edo Line transport terminal on Tuesday, Wike criticised Obi for politicising what he called a routine governance issue, urging him to stop “playing to the gallery.”
“Leadership is not easy. As a leader, you’re a dustbin—people throw everything at you,” Wike said. “I’ve seen all the unnecessary debates on TV. When I was governor and Peter Obi visited my state, he informed me in advance. I provided him with logistics because, as a presidential candidate, if anything happens during his visit, the governor is held accountable.”
Wike insisted that Governor Okpebholo did not ban Obi from entering Edo State, but merely asked for prior notice to ensure security coordination.
“You didn’t say, ‘Don’t come.’ You said, ‘If you are coming, inform me.’ That is the responsible thing to do. You’re the one in charge of his safety,” Wike told Okpebholo. “If Obi refuses to inform you, that’s his decision. But stop turning the truth into politics.”
The FCT minister also accused prominent politicians of using such incidents for political gain: “Some of these so-called big men are playing politics with everything. If anything goes wrong during Obi’s visit, they’ll turn around and blame the governor.”
Wike encouraged Okpebholo to remain resolute, emphasizing that criticism is part of leadership:
“Stand firm. If people aren’t talking about you, then you’re not a governor. Every day I wake up to stories about me—and that’s fine. The important question is: do you have the support of your people? If yes, then go ahead.”
The controversy began after Obi visited the School of Nursing Sciences at St. Philomena’s Hospital in Benin on July 7, where he donated ₦15 million. Governor Okpebholo’s office later issued a statement saying the visit lacked appropriate security clearance, citing recent attacks on religious leaders in the state.
That comment sparked widespread backlash. Labour Party senators Victor Umeh, Ireti Kingibe, Ezea Okey, and Tony Nwoye condemned the governor’s remarks as “executive rascality and abuse of office.” Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also called on Okpebholo to retract the statement and issue a public apology.
As of press time, Peter Obi has not publicly responded to the dispute.
