The Igbo Community Association, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has expressed outrage over the threat issued against Mr Peter Obi by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
The organisation’s stand was contained in a statement issued Friday night, signed by Engr Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, its President General.
According to the Igbo organisation, Okpebholo lacked the powers to ban Obi from entering Edo State.
Ellis-Ezenekwe said, “the Governor of Edo State, Okpebholo must be cautious of the manner he expresses himself especially publicly. Particularly now that he speaks as an elected governor of a state.”
He described the threat against Obi as “simply disappointing and unbecoming of a supposed statesman.”
“The Governor of Edo State claimed that three persons were killed immediately following the visit of Peter Obi to the state. Through this, the Governor labeled Peter Obi a security threat to the people of Edo State.
“What an irresponsible way to speak as a governor. The Igbo Community in the FCT is shocked by the careless manner the Edo Governor spoke.
“We demand that the Edo Governor retracts his statement immediately.
“He must retract the insinuation that Peter Obi’s visit caused the killing of three people in Edo State.
“It is sad and disappointing for the Governor to abandon the mounting responsibilities of governance to concentrate on the travel log of Mr Peter Obi.
“He should focus on his responsibilities as a governor and leave Peter obi alone. Peter obi is a free citizen of Nigeria with the full rights of the Constitution to travel freely to any part of this country.
“The politics of blood and do or die must stop. Nigeria is not a one party system. We are in a full fledged democracy.
“We, the Igbo Community in the Federal Capital Territory, is calling on the security architecture to caution the Edo State Governor to deceit from such public utterances.
“This is a clear sign of the hate against anything Igbo. It is no longer about Peter Obi, it is about the Demons that have been holding Nigerian and Nigerians. It is now clear about the real enemies Nigerians have been fighting.
“They’re holding Nnamdi Kanu who has not been found guilty of anything, and they’re also preventing Peter Obi from visiting Edo State. The Benue State governor (a Rev Fr.) did the same a few months ago.
“I understand the governor’s fears. Well, that’s what someone who lacks popularity would say. He knows that the weight of the new coalition movement is terrible. And he sees Peter Obi as a possible image of the Coalition ADC.
“This is among the evils that have befallen the people of Nigeria through bad government, poverty of intelligence, playing god, ignorant arrogance, bigotry and hopelessness. Nigeria is for everybody,” Ellis-Ezenekwe declared.
Peter Obi: Gov Okpebholo’s threat irresponsible, won’t stand – Igbo Community in FCT
