Nollywood actor and Labour Party chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly condemned the Edo State Governor’s recent comments allegedly warning Peter Obi not to enter Edo without prior clearance, describing it as unconstitutional, tribal, and an attack on free movement and political opposition.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Okonkwo, a lawyer and prominent opposition figure, said the governor’s remarks violated Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to move freely and reside in any part of the country. He noted that no governor had the legal right to deny entry to any Nigerian citizen, stating, “What the governor said is unconstitutional, illegal, irresponsible, and largely illiterate.”
Okonkwo went further to accuse the governor of using threats to intimidate opposition figures, saying such behavior reflects a dangerous abuse of power. Drawing parallels, he recalled that even when former APC Chairman Adams Oshiomhole blocked an airport, no such threats were made against him, but opposition leaders constantly face harassment.
As an Igbo man, Okonkwo also took issue with what he described as the governor’s “tribalistic and bigoted” posture, suggesting that such threats would not have been issued if Obi were from a different ethnic group. He said the governor’s warning that Obi’s security could not be guaranteed unless he sought permission was a veiled threat to his life.
Okonkwo issued a stern warning, stating that any harm to Peter Obi would be taken personally by millions of Nigerians. “If a strand of hair falls from Peter Obi, this is a direct attack,” he said, rejecting the notion that political leaders must get gubernatorial approval to move freely.
He concluded by labeling the incident “a disgraceful abuse of power” and urged the public to reject such divisive and undemocratic rhetoric.
