Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has advised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to urgently seek legal protection following a recent threat to his life by the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo.
Falana gave the advice in a statement issued on Sunday, in response to remarks made by Governor Okpebholo during a political rally in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.
At the rally, Okpebholo had warned Obi not to visit Edo State without prior notification or clearance from his office.
“There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me,” Okpebholo declared. “His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”
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Reacting to the governor’s comments, Falana described the threat as a gross violation of Peter Obi’s constitutional rights, particularly his right to life as guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
“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 stated.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further warned that should the governor fail to retract his statement, Obi must act without delay to seek redress through the judicial system.
“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,” Falana advised.
He added that the former presidential candidate must act swiftly in view of the rising cases of mob justice and extrajudicial killings across the country.
