A recent demand by a state governor for Peter Obi to seek clearance before visiting Edo State has ignited a fierce debate, with one commentator, Mr. Okonkwo, vehemently condemning the governor’s stance and asserting that it poses a direct threat to Obi’s safety.
Okonkwo maintained that the governor lacks any constitutional authority to demand such clearance from Obi.
He warned that the governor should be held directly responsible if any harm were to befall the Labour Party chieftain.
“When you finish beating a madman, that’s when you know he has people. If a strand of hair falls from Peter Obi, then you will know he has kinsmen,” Okonkwo thundered, describing the governor’s statement as “a direct attack and threat to his life.” He referenced the governor’s explicit declaration that Obi’s security could “no longer be guaranteed” without his permission.
Okonkwo challenged the governor’s assertion, questioning whether every Nigerian would need to seek permission from state governors before traveling.
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He emphasized that even for peaceful protests, the law does not require prior permission, making the demand for a state visit “offensive.”
He further criticized the governor, quoting Julius Caesar to describe him as a “fat, sleek-headed man” who “thinks too much of himself” and is therefore “dangerous.” When an anchor person attempted to moderate his temper, Okonkwo retorted, “What decorum has the Governor maintained by threatening the life of a Nigerian citizen?”