Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has warned that the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, must get security clearance before coming to the state.
Obi had visited Benin, the state capital, on July 7 and donated N15m million to St Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for the completion of projects in the school.
The governor, who spoke on Friday while receiving Marcus Onobun, the last remaining opposition federal lawmaker in the state, into the All Progressives Congress, condemned Obi’s visit to the state.
He asserted that his 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 stated.
He continued: “I’m sending a direct message to him. There’s a new Sheriff in town. He cannot come to Edo State without telling me. His security will not be guaranteed. Whatever happens to him when he is in Edo state he will take it. I’m serious about it ”
Speaking at the event, the governor described Onobun’s move to APC as the final nail in the coffin of the PDP in Edo State.
He said that the APC is now firmly in control of Edo State, declaring that all traces of the opposition would be completely erased by the 2027 general elections.
He added, “We are not lobbying anyone to join APC; they are coming because they see the results of our governance. In 2027, 2.5 million votes from Edo are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu.
“Last week, we finally buried the PDP in Edo State. I saw someone crying at Ring Road, talking about having 65 per cent. That is what we call social media winning. When I said I would become the Governor, I meant it. Today, we are turning Edo into a construction site, and they can see it,” he said.
The governor further accused key opposition figures of deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement, claiming some of them were responsible for derailed national infrastructure projects and national insecurity.
He said, “Some of them stole railway funds. Some were Senate Presidents for years and could not build roads to their villages. Some sold off Nigeria’s assets and even ushered in Boko Haram and kidnappers. These same people now want to form new parties. Today, SDP, tomorrow ADC, next ADA. We do not need insecurity merchants,” Okpebholo declared.
Acting Deputy State Chairman of APC, Sylvester Aigboboh, said the defection is a major boost for the party, as it prepares for a major senatorial rerun election coming up next month.
He said the remnants in the PDP are expected to join the ruling APC in the coming months, as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
In his remarks, Onobun, who represents Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, said that his defection was both ideological and strategic.
“I led the campaign for an Esan Governor. Now that we have one, I cannot be in the opposition. I have seen what Governor Okpebholo is doing; Edo people have seen it. I am back home to support him so that our people can get more,” he said.
Onobun was accompanied into the APC by a host of former APC members who had earlier defected with him to the PDP.
Their return, observers say, is a major consolidation of political strength ahead of future electoral contests in the State.
