Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has warned Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, not to come to the state again without security clearance.
Speaking on Friday while receiving Marcus Onobun, member of the house of representatives, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo said Obi’s recent visit to the state coincided with the killing of three people.
The governor accused Obi of contributing to a resurgence of violence in the state.
“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,” Okpebholo said.
“I am sending a direct message to him. There is a new sheriff in town. He cannot come to Edo without telling me, because his security will never be guaranteed.
“Whatever happens to him when he is in Edo state, he will take it. I am serious about it.”
The governor warned that the state government would not tolerate such violence linked to political activities.
He also dismissed claims that APC was lobbying for members, insisting that people are joining the party because of the results of its governance.
“We are not lobbying anyone to join APC; they are coming because they see the results of our governance. In 2027, 2.5 million votes from Edo are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Okpebholo claimed that opposition figures were responsible for corruption, mismanagement, and insecurity, accusing some of stealing railway funds, neglecting infrastructure in their constituencies, and enabling Boko Haram and kidnappers.
“Some of them stole railway funds. Some were senate presidents for years and could not build roads to their villages,” he said.
“Some sold off Nigeria’s assets and even ushered in Boko Haram and kidnappers. These same people now want to form new parties. Today, SDP; tomorrow, ADC; next, ADA. We do not need insecurity merchants.”
The governor said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been effectively buried in Edo state, dismissing social media claims of its popularity.
