Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a former Senate Minority Leader and current Chairman of the South East Senate Caucus, has voiced strong concerns over what he termed a constitutional violation and a direct threat by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, Abaribe issued a stern warning to Governor Okpebholo for allegedly attempting to place movement restrictions on Obi.
The lawmaker expressed deep apprehension over what he described as the “unconstitutional overreach” by the Edo State Governor.
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“It is very unfortunate that it seems our dear country is fast descending to lawlessness with this mindset and I pray that nothing happens to Mr Peter Obi,” he warned.
According to Abaribe, the governor lacks the legal authority to prevent any Nigerian citizen from entering or moving freely within Edo State.
“Nigeria is still a constitutional democracy where the rights of everyone, particularly citizens of Nigeria, are guaranteed,” Abaribe stated.
“It is therefore disheartening that leaders who are supposedly the custodians of the letters and spirit of the 1999 constitution as amended would decide to willfully be at the driving seat of its denigration in the name of politics,” he added.
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The senator cautioned that the governor’s actions could establish a dangerous precedent, thereby threatening the fundamental principles of Nigeria’s democracy.
“So one wonders where the Edo State governor derives his powers to bar a Nigerian citizen from visiting his state unless such a person obtains permission from him; otherwise, the person’s security will not be guaranteed.
“That is a dangerous threat to life that the authorities should not gloss over,” Abaribe said.
Abaribe characterized the situation as an unfortunate sign of increasing lawlessness, urging authorities to intervene to prevent further escalation.
He also reminded Governor Okpebholo, who is a former Senator, about the fundamental constitutional principles that should guide leadership and governance, particularly within a diverse federation like Nigeria.
“Governor Okpebolo, who was a Senator and as such a lawmaker, needs to be reminded that Nigeria belongs to all of us and that he is dead wrong to claim authority that he does not have.
“The beauty of democracy is made manifest in the expression of freedom to hold divergent views and the freedom of movement of every Nigerian in any part of the Nigerian Federation, Edo State inclusive,” he stressed.
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