Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State to immediately retract recent threats made against the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Falana’s reaction followed remarks attributed to the
governor during a political rally in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government
Area, where he reportedly warned that Obi must not enter Edo State without
prior notification or security clearance.
The governor said: “There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot
just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed.
If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not
joking.”
In a statement released on Sunday, Falana condemned the
governor’s comments, describing them as a direct violation of fundamental
rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights
instruments.
“The threat to Mr Peter Obi’s life by the so-called ‘new
sheriff in town’ contravenes Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),
as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both
of which guarantee the right to life,” Falana stated.
He emphasized that under Section 14(2)(b) of the
Constitution, the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary
responsibility of government, urging Governor Okpebholo to publicly retract the
threat, issue an apology to Obi, and affirm his safety within Edo State.
Falana also advised that if the governor fails to withdraw
the statement, Obi should seek legal redress by filing a suit at the Federal
High Court in Benin to enforce his fundamental rights.
“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.
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