Former President of the Senate, Dr Adolphus Wabara, has described the threat on the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, as a clear case of gross ignorance of constitutional provisions, executive rascality and a reflection of governor’s academic hollowness and ineptitude.
This was as he warned against some persons pushing Nigeria toward the brink through political overzealousness, stressing that national peace and unity must take precedence over partisan interests.
Senator Wabara, who stated these in a statement he issued on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, also said that Okpebholo’s unguarded statement was an overreach of executive powers, stressing that no state governor has the constitutional authority to restrict the lawful movement of any Nigerian citizen.
He therefore called on political office holders to exercise restraint and foster unity, rather than sow division through inflammatory rhetoric.
While condemning Governor Okpebholo for making such a reckless statement, Wabara warned that such “provocative and unguarded utterances” could inflame ethnic tensions between Edo citizens and the Igbo community to which Obi belongs.
The former Senate President specifically said that Section 41 (1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country.
In the words of Wabara; “It smacks of executive impunity, power intoxication, political insanity, and gross abuse of office for an elected Governor to exhibit such intolerable dictatorial tendencies”.
Wabara’s reaction followed a recent warning by Governor Okpebholo, to the effect that Mr. Peter Obi must obtain security clearance from him (Okpebholo) before visiting Edo, and warned that the state could not guarantee his safety if he fails to abide by the directive.
Okpebholo said; “If Peter Obi wants to come here, he must seek proper security clearance. We cannot guarantee his safety otherwise. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking”.
Wabara demanded a public apology from Governor Okpebholo to Peter Obi and a written guarantee of the former Governor of Anambra’s safety on any future visits to the state.
Wabara also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call APC governors to order and cautioned against attempts to suppress opposition voices as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.
