Samuel Omang
Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday clarified his remarks regarding Peter Obi, stating that his comment barring the former Anambra State governor from entering Edo without clearance was not a threat but a directive on protocol.
Okpebholo explained that his statement, made during a defection rally in Uromi on Friday, was intended to emphasize the importance of following security procedures for high-profile visits to the state.
A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, highlighted the governor’s constitutional duty as Chief Security Officer of Edo State to safeguard the lives and property of residents and visitors.
“It is the Governor’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of all residents and visitors alike. This duty includes ensuring that adequate security measures are put in place during high-profile visits or events that may attract large crowds or media attention. When such protocols are ignored, it creates serious security vulnerabilities, not only for the visitor but also for citizens who may be caught in avoidable threats,” the statement read.
Okpebholo also noted the rising incidents of attacks and abductions involving religious leaders, particularly Catholic priests and Christian clerics. He stressed that public donations to churches and other faith-based institutions must be handled with discretion to avoid exposing them to further danger.
“The Governor’s comments on the need for discretion in public giving are rooted in both security intelligence and moral responsibility,” the statement continued.
Citing the Bible, Itua added: “The Holy Scripture reminds us that giving is best done in private, as Jesus admonished us in Matthew 6:2-4 that, ‘When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpet… but when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’”
The governor also referenced Obi’s past as Anambra State governor, saying, “Governor Okpebholo is not Peter Obi, who, as Governor of Anambra State, detained Nasir El-Rufai when he visited.”
Okpebholo warned against misinterpreting his comments for political advantage, stressing that politically motivated actions would not be allowed to jeopardize lives in Edo State.
“We expect leaders, no matter how highly placed, to align with the protocols and security realities of the areas they visit,” he concluded.