Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Sunday condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State over comments threatening the safety of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
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Falana, in a strongly worded statement, called on Governor Okpebholo to immediately withdraw the threat and publicly apologise to Obi, warning that the remarks were unconstitutional and posed a serious violation of the right to life.
At a recent political rally held in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Governor Okpebholo had declared that Peter Obi must obtain security clearance before entering Edo State, warning that “his security will not be guaranteed” otherwise.
“There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me,” Okpebholo was quoted as saying. “If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”
Reacting, Falana stated that the governor’s threat breached Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act), both of which guarantee every Nigerian’s right to life and security.
“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,” Falana said.
He added that if the governor fails to retract his statement, Obi should urgently seek legal redress.
“Mr. 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. He 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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