The Obidant Movement has condemned the governor of Edo on Monday the verbal attack of Okpebholo against Peter Obi, stating that it is “unconstitutional and restricts the fundamental right of free movement guaranteed by section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.”
Okpebholo, in a video now viral, had issued a severe warning to OBI after the recent commitment of the latter in the state.
According to the governor, OBI would be responsible for whatever happens in Edo if he visits the State without his permission.
Also read: Peter Obi is our product, we want to recover it – PDP
Reacting, the obidant movement in a statement signed on Friday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Nana Kazaure, expressed a deep concern for the circulating video, noting that such threats should not be taken lightly.
The obidant movement said that this is not an isolated incident, remembering a similar threat from Benue’s governor against Peter Obi while he was in humanitarian missions.
The obidant movement warned that if something happens to Peter Obi, the governors (Okpebholo and Alia) that make these threats must be responsible, given their roles as security directors in their states.
“We urge all well -intentioned Nigerians to speak against this decline to political intolerance and recklessness,” the movement said.
The full statement below;
The obidant movement has observed with deep concern a circulating video in which the governor of the state of Edo, his excellence, on Monday, Okpebholo, supposedly warns his excellence @peterobi who never set foot in the state of Edo without preforming it.
To avoid doubts, Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended) guarantees the right of all Nigerian citizens to move freely and reside anywhere in the country. Therefore, it is disturbing and constitutionally indefensible that Governor Okpebholo threatens or seeks to restrict this fundamental right.
Even more worrying is the pattern that arises from such dangerous expressions. This is not an isolated incident. We remember a similar threat previously issued by the governor of Benue’s state against the person of his excellence, Mr. Obi. In both cases, Peter Obi was in missions of good will and charity, offering humanitarian support to citizens careless by the governors themselves and the government now issuing these threats.
We want to alert the Nigerians and the international community that these threats should not be discarded lightly. In case something inexpressive happens to their excellence Peter Obi, Nigerians should know where to look. These governors are the main security officers of their respective states, and their expressions have weight, not only in words, but in possible consequences.
We urge all well -intentioned Nigerians to speak against this decline to political intolerance and recklessness. Nigeria belongs to everyone. No individual, no matter how highly located, should try to enlive.