Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, on Sunday, asked the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, to withdraw the threats to the life of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
At a recent political rally held at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Okpebholo warned Obi not to enter the state without notifying him or obtaining security clearance.
He 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.”
Falana stated in his statement that the threat to Peter Obi’s life issued by the “new sheriff in town” in Edo State violates Section 33 of the Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement), both of which guarantee every citizen’s fundamental right to life.
“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,” Falana said.
