•Asks, how did Obi get N15m to donate to people if he claims not to give ‘shishi’
The governor of Edo State, Sen Monday Okpebholo, yesterday sent a powerful message to Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, warning him not to step into Edo State without getting a clearance from him.
A chieftain of the Labour Party and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Chief Peter Ameh, has, however, condemned Governor Okpebholo’s statement, describing it despicable and unconstitutional.
The governor gave the warning in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state while receiving a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the House of Representatives representing Esan West/Igueben/Central, Hon Marcus Onobun who has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Okpebholo alleged that the last time Mr Peter Obi visited Edo state, where he donated N15m to a nursing school, three people died thereafter. He accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying someone who said he does not give “shishi” to people, how did he get N15 million to donate to people?
Speaking in pidgin and English, he said, “The man wey say e no get ‘shishi’, I am sending a direct message to him. He cannot come to Edo without telling me. A new Sheriff is in town.
“He came the other day and donated N15m. By the time he left after donating the money, there was crisis and three people died in Benin. Tell Obi he should not come to Edo without telling me. We are not lobbying anyone to join APC, they are coming because they see the results of our governance. In 2027, 2.5 million votes from Edo are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu.
“Last week, we finally buried the PDP in Edo State. I saw someone crying at Ring Road, talking about having 65%. That is what we call social media winning. When I said I would become the governor, I meant it. Today, we are turning Edo into a construction site, and they can see it,” he said.
He accused key opposition figures of deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement, claiming some of them were responsible for derailed national infrastructure projects and national insecurity.
“Some of them stole railway funds. Some were Senate Presidents for years and could not build roads to their villages. Some sold off Nigeria’s assets and even ushered in Boko Haram and kidnappers. These same people now want to form new parties. Today, they are in SDP, tomorrow they are in ADC, next tomorrow they are in ADA. We do not need insecurity merchants,” Okpebholo declared.
The Governor, while welcoming Hon. Onobun and his supporters into the APC fold, urged them to join in the developmental vision for Edo State. On his part, Onobun said he was back home to the APC.
Vanguard
