Femi Falana to Peter Obi: Take Action If Okpebholo Doesn’t Retract Illegal Statement
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State, has been urged by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana to rescind the threat against Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
As recounted, Okphebolo said that violence had accompanied the former governor of Anambra State’s previous visit to Edo during a public event on Friday, warning Peter Obi not to travel there without first obtaining security clearance.
“That man who says he has no’shishi’ came and dropped N15 million,” he described. Where had he obtained it? They killed three people after he left. Obi should thus not enter Edo without a security clearance.
In contrast, Falana denounced Okpebholo’s remarks in a statement issued on Sunday, claiming that they were in violation of the 2019 Constitution.
“If Okpebholo does not remove the unlawful threat, Peter Obi should go ahead and apply in the Federal High Court’s Benin Judicial Division to ensure the enforcement of his fundamental right to life,” the human rights attorney said.
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He declared, “The threat against Mr. Peter Obi’s life issued by the “new sheriff in town” in Edo State violates both article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples (Ratification and Enforcement) and section 33 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended, which protects every citizen’s fundamental right to life.
“Grantor Okpebholo ought to revoke the threat, publicly apologize to Mr. Peter Obi, and guarantee him the safety of his life in Edo State in accordance with section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which states that the principal goal of government shall be the security and welfare of the people.
But Mr. Peter Obi should go ahead and apply to the Federal High Court’s Benin Judicial Division to have his fundamental right to life upheld if Governor Okpebholo does not revoke the unlawful threat due to his blatant abuse of power. In light of the country’s high rate of extrajudicial executions and mob justice, Mr. Obi should take immediate action.
