Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has said he stands by his call for former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to notify him before visiting the state, insisting that his statement was a security advisory, not a threat.
Speaking in Benin City on Tuesday during the official inauguration of the revamped Edo Line Transport Company, a state-owned enterprise, Okpebholo maintained that the request was a matter of basic protocol expected of any high-profile visitor to a state.
“What I said was a simple advice. I told him not to visit Edo without informing me. As chief security officer, it’s a basic protocol. If asking him to notify me is considered a crime, so be it. I have no regrets,” the governor stated.
He recalled that in 2024, he himself had ignored a similar advisory from the Commissioner of Police during the tenure of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, a decision he said cost his police orderly his life.
“The commissioner saw me and asked me to remain at the airport. I ignored him. At the gate, my police orderly, Inspector Akor Onu, was shot dead. That painful experience still guides how I view security warnings and protocols to this very day.”
Okpebholo stressed that his advice to Obi was informed by credible security reports and warned that disregarding such protocols could have consequences. “If he listens, good. If not, it’s his choice. It doesn’t concern me,” he said.
Responding to criticisms that followed his comments, the governor dismissed the backlash as misplaced. “I don’t understand their pain. Is it because I said they don’t have ‘shishi’? Didn’t they say they don’t have ‘shishi’?” he asked rhetorically.
On the new Edo Line, the governor attributed the relaunch to increased federal allocations and credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for enabling the state to deliver on the initiative.
“This dream could never come true without a father like the President. He truly cares about Edo and the entire South-South region. In Edo, we must always thank the President. He has shown genuine love, funding us, monitoring us, and helping transform our vision into visible reality.”
He praised Edo residents for supporting his administration, noting that their votes signaled a readiness for progress and reform. “The people of Edo have been in the wilderness for years. Now, change has finally arrived.”
Also speaking at the event, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike echoed Okpebholo’s position on the importance of protocol for visiting dignitaries. He stated that during his tenure as Rivers State Governor, Peter Obi sought prior clearance before any visit, in line with standard security practice.
Wike expressed surprise that Obi did not do the same in Edo. “High-profile Nigerians, including Peter Obi, must inform a state governor before visiting to ensure that adequate security measures are provided for their safety,” he said.
Commending Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, Wike said, “You have actually shown your support for our President in practical terms by your performance… Your performance will give you the confidence to always come home even after your tenure as governor.”
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