July 19, 2025
The Obidient Movement has reacted to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, threat in a viral video wherein he allegedly warned former presidential candidate Peter Obi never to enter Edo without without first informing him, otherwise Obi’s safety would not be guaranteed.
The movement described the comment as both unconstitutional and dangerous.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday by the Obidient movement’s Director of Strategic Communications, Nana Kazaure, the group said governor Okpebholo’s comments were “reckless, unlawful, and a threat to national cohesion,” warning that Nigeria’s unity cannot be held hostage by the ego of a few state actors.
“This is not a monarchy. Edo State is not a private estate,” the statement read.
“Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to move freely across Nigeria. No governor, no matter how power-drunk, can revoke that.”
The group stated that Obi’s many visits including one to Edo State have consistently been humanitarian.
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It also drew parallels with a similar threat issued by the Benue State Governor in 2023, describing the trend as a “coordinated campaign of intimidation.”
Kazaure said “If anything untoward happens to Mr. Peter Obi, Nigerians now know who to hold responsible.
These threats are not mere words. They are incitements, and they carry real-world consequences.”
No politician is above the Constitution. Nigeria belongs to all of us not just those who hold temporary power.”
The movement urged Nigerians to rise against the normalisation of political intolerance and the creeping authoritarianism of elected officials.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, gave the warning in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state while receiving a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the House of Representatives representing Esan West/Igueben/Central, Hon Marcus Onobun who has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Governor Qkpebholo alleged that the last time Mr Peter Obi visited Edo state, where he donated N15m to a nursing school, three people died thereafter. He accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying someone who said he does not give “shishi” to people, how did he get N15 million to donate to people?
Okpebholo, who spoke in pidgin and English, said, “The man wey say e no get ‘shishi’, I am sending a direct message to him. He cannot come to Edo without telling me. A new Sheriff is in town.
“He came the other day and donated N15m. By the time he left after donating the money, there was crisis and three people died in Benin. Tell Obi he should not come to Edo without telling me.
