Edo: Any threat against Peter Obi is a threat to all Nigerians – Atiku warns

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the recent remarks made by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, regarding Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Atiku stated that any threat directed at Obi is a threat to all Nigerians.

The reaction came via a tweet posted on Tuesday, following days of public outcry over Governor Okpebholo’s controversial statement.

During a political event marking the defection of federal lawmaker Marcus Onobun to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo had declared that Peter Obi must seek security clearance before visiting Edo State.

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Earlier in July, Obi had visited St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences in Benin, the capital of Edo State, to donate N15 million for the school’s project.

But Gov Okpebholo claimed that Obi’s visit coincided with the resurgence of violence in the state.

“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 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.

“His visit coincided with a resurgence of violence in the state and this will not be tolerated,” the governor claimed.

Reacting to the issue via his verified Twitter account, Atiku tweeted:
“Let it be known that a threat against Peter Obi or any of us is a threat against ALL of us.”

Governor Okpebholo’s statement has been interpreted by many as an attempt to intimidate or restrict opposition figures from engaging freely within the state.