‘Interesting the threat of death to Obi or faced legal action’, Falana tells Edo Gov Okpebholo

Leading lawyer and activist of human rights, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the Governor of the State Edo, Monday Okpebholo, to attract the threat of new deaths that he issued against former presidential candidates from the Labor Party (LP), Peter Obi.

Okpebholo on Friday, during the political meeting in Uromi, Esan North-East Government Area in the state, warned Obi not to visit the state without prior notice or security permit.

The warning came after the former Governor of the State Anambra visited Benin, the Capital of the State, and contributed the number of N15M to the Hospital Care School St. Philomena for completing several projects in schools.

When reacting to development, Okpebholo said:
“There is a new sheriff in the city. He can’t just come to Edo without telling me. His safety will not be guaranteed. If something happens to him here, he will blame himself. I am not kidding.

“The man who said he did not have ‘Shishi’ came and dropped N15M. Where did he get it? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi could not come to Edo without security permission. His visit coincided with the rise of violence in the state, and this would not be tolerated,” said the Governor.

But the threat, causing public protests with many Nigerians to revile Okpebholo, with some calling him to withdraw threats that they think are annoying.

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Falana also added his voice to a mob of criticism aimed at the Governor in a statement released on Sunday, where he strongly condemned the statement, describing them as a violation of OBi’s fundamental rights as captured under the 33 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter in human rights and the people, both of which guarantee every citizen.

In that statement, Falana stated that the threat to Obi’s life should not be taken with a heart because it was a serious problem and had to be treated like that.

“Considering part 14 (2) (b) the constitution, which stipulates that the security and welfare of the people will be the main goal of the government, the Governor of Okpebholo must withdraw the threat, apologize openly to Peter Obi and convince him about the safety of his life in the state of Edo,” said the human rights lawyer.

He asked Obi to consider legal action against the governor if he failed to withdraw threats.

“However, if the Governor of Okpebholo does not attract an illegal threat because of the mere arrogance of raw strength, Peter Obi must continue to submit an application at the Benin Judicial Division from the Federal High Court to secure his fundamental rights to live.

“Mr Obi must act very urgently given the prevalence of mass justice and other forms of murder outside the law in this country,” Falana added.