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A former spokesman for the Presidential Party’s Presidential Campaign Board, Kenneth Okonkwo, has condemned the new -newest comment that was credited to the Governor of the State Edo on Monday Okpebholo, regarding party candidates in the 2023 election, Peter Obi’s right to visit the state.
Okonkwo, who spoke in a direct interview in the News area on Monday, condemned the Governor’s statement as a violation of the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens.
He described the statement as “non -constitutional, illegal, irresponsible, and most illiteracy.”
Okpebholo, when talking about political meetings in Uromi, the territory of the North East Esan Regional Government in the state, accused that Obi’s previous visit to the state had caused violence and death.
He accused the former presidential candidate to act without paying attention to the state protocol, saying: “There is a new sheriff in the city. He cannot just come to Edo without telling me. His security will not be guaranteed. If something happens to him here, he will blame himself. I am not kidding.”
He further accused that Obi, known for his economical public personality, left traces of financial and security problems.
“The man who said he did not have ‘Shishi’ came and dropped N15 million. Where did he get it? After he left, three people were killed,” said the Governor, adding that Obi would now need a security permit before entering Edo.
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After the reaction, the Governor of Okpebholo issued clarification on Sunday, which stated that his comments were not intended as a threat but as an exclamation for compliance with protocols.
He stated that his statement had been misinterpreted.
However, Okonkwo rejected the original statement and clarification and described the episode as a direct violation of the 1999 constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement for all Nigerian citizens.
He stated: “Every Nigerian citizen has the right to move freely throughout Nigeria and live in any part. There are no citizens who will be expelled from or rejected to any part in the country.
“There is no governor who has the power to prevent Nigerian citizens from entering the state in the federation.”
The Head of the Labor Party further accused the Governor of Okpebholo of political motivated intimidation, targeting the number of opposition.
“This is a direct attack, threat, and intimidation of an opposition leader,” he said.
He described the governor as “less produced, challenged by figures, panchomic, tiny, and mostly illiteracy.”
Okonkwo also expressed concern over what he called the tone that was charged ethnically in the Governor’s statement, describing them as “direct threats to IGBO people” and “Exhibitions become IGBO haters.”
