A photo combo of Okpebholo and Obi | File Image
Falana: If Governor Okpebholo does not withdraw the illegal threat because of sheer arrogance of raw power, Mr. Peter Obi should proceed to file an application in the Benin Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to secure the enforcement of his fundamental right to life
By Valentine Amanze
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has stepped beyond his bounds, with his threat to the life of Nigeria’s most popular politician, Mr. Peter Obi.
Consequently, the country’s famous human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has joined millions of Nigerians in condemning the governor’s frivolity.
Falana, on Sunday, asked Okpebholo to withdraw the threat against the flagbearer of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election.
During a public event on Friday, Okpebholo warned that Obi must not visit Edo without prior security clearance, alleging that violence followed the LP leader’s last visit to the state.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15 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,” Okpebholo had said.
Femi Falana | File Image
Also read: Obi @ 64: Revisiting Obimentalism
Responding, Falana said that Okpebholo’s utterances violate the 1999 Constitution.
“The threat to the life of Mr. Peter Obi issued by the “new sheriff in town” in Edo State, constitutes a violation of section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples (Ratification and Enforcement) which guarantee the fundamental right of every citizen to life,” Falana said.
“In view of section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, Governor Okpebholo should withdraw the threat, apologise publicly to Mr. Peter Obi and assure him of the safety of his life in Edo State.
“However, if Governor Okpebholo does not withdraw the illegal threat because of sheer arrogance of raw power, Mr. Peter Obi should proceed to file an application in the Benin Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to secure the enforcement of his fundamental right to life. Mr. Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country.”
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