Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday, called on the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, to withdraw the threats to life issued to former Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
The Edo State governor had in a political rally held at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, warned Obi not to enter the state without notifying him or obtaining security clearance.
He stressed that Obi is on his own if he fails to heed to his warnings “His security will not be guaranteed”, adding that “If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”
Reacting to the threats In a statement, Falana noted that the threat to the life of Obi amounts to a violation of Section 33 of the Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples (Ratification and Enforcement) which guarantee the fundamental right of every citizen to life.
He said “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.
“However, 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.
“Mr. Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country,” he said.
