Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the threat and restriction of movement placed on the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, in Edo State by Governor Monday Okpebholo as a direct challenge to Nigeria’s Unity and a brazen attack on the constitution.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the South-East Senate Caucus, also warned that the Governor of Edo State lacks the constitutional powers to abridge any citizen’s right and may have by so doing, unconscionably triggered a divisive trajectory that could hurt Nigeria’s democratic advancement.
Abaribe, in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, called for caution and warned that Nigeria is still a constitutional democracy where the rights of everyone, particularly citizens of Nigeria are guaranteed.
“It is therefore disheartening that leaders who are supposedly the custodians of the letters and spirit of the 1999 Constitution, as amended would decide to willfully be at the driving seat of its denigration in the name of politics.
“Nigeria is governed by rules and her leaders in all sub national governments subscribed to the adherence and respect to the rule of law as enshrined in the constitution.
“So one wonders where the Edo State governor derives his powers to bar a Nigerian citizen from visiting his state unless such a person obtains permission from him otherwise the person’s security will not be guaranteed.
“That is a dangerous threat to life that the authorities should not gloss over.
“It is very unfortunate that it seems our dear country is fast descending to lawlessness with this mindset and I pray that nothing happens to Mr Peter Obi.
“Governor Okpebholo who was a Senator and as such a lawmaker needs to be reminded that Nigeria belongs to all of us and that he is dead wrong to claim authority that he does not have.
“The beauty of democracy is made manifest in the expression of freedom to hold divergent views and the freedom of movement of every Nigerian in any part of the Nigerian Federation, Edo State inclusive”, Abaribe said.
