Following a scarting wave of criticisms over his reported ban on Labour party leader Peter Obi from entering Edo State without security clearance, Governor Monday Okpebholo, on Sunday said his statement was misunderstood.
Okpebholo, while receiving defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC on Friday, warned the former Labour Party presidential candidate not to visit the state without security clearance.
He particularly condemned the recent visit of Peter Obi, to Benin City, and asserted that it coincided with a resurgence of violence.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” the governor stated.
.On July 18, the governor said that Obi’s visit to St Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences on June 7, where he donated N15 million for the completion of projects in the school, coincided with the resurgence of violence and the killing of three persons.
However, the governor’s statement drew widespread condemnation from Labour Party Senators, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), OBIdient Movement, Igbo Community in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and many Nigerians.
On Sunday morning, Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, clarified that Edo State remains a home for all Nigerians, regardless of party affiliation, faith, or creed.
According to him, Governor Okpebholo is committed to politics of inclusivity, not exclusion, adding that his administration is one of bridges, not walls.
He insisted that proper protocols must be adhered to by political leaders, including Obi.
Itua pointed out that the governor’s comment was not an attack but a statement borne out of official protocol, not personal bias.
His statement reads: “At every point in the journey of leadership, those in authority must provide not only stewardship but also clarity. The weight of governance often demands that decisions, words, and actions reflect a deep sense of responsibility, not just to one’s immediate constituency but to the broader Nigerian family. This is the principle that guides Governor Monday Okpebholo’s leadership.
“Much like the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s compelling reflection in his 1989 book, Because I Am Involved, the current realities in Edo State require a similar declaration. The governor’s words and actions are not accidental; they are deeply rooted in duty, context, and commitment to Edo people. His statement — now the subject of public commentary — was made in a setting that demanded clarity of roles and respect for official order.
“Governor Okpebholo, a man of civility and courtesy, upholds the highest traditions of intergovernmental respect and protocol. In public events where protocol is critical, the order of recognition and speech must follow laid-down standards, especially where serving officials and guests of honour are present.
“His clarification was a restatement of this norm — that while all visitors to the state are welcome and respected, official channels and roles must be observed to maintain structure and avoid unintended misinterpretations.
“It is important to state that Edo remains a home for all Nigerians, regardless of party affiliation, faith, or creed. As a leader elected to serve every Edo citizen, Governor Okpebholo is committed to politics of inclusivity, not exclusion. His administration is one of bridges, not walls.
“Governor Okpebholo’s passion for service is evident in the transformational work already underway across Edo State. In education, his three-pronged strategy — rebuilding infrastructure, recruiting teachers, and reforming pedagogy — is returning public schools to centers of excellence.
“In agriculture, the cultivation of over 3,000 kilometers of arable land, backed by increased budgetary allocation, is reviving food production and rural enterprise.
“Major road construction projects are reconnecting communities and easing trade and mobility. On security, the governor’s support for anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping legislation, alongside thousands of operational vehicles for security agencies, shows his seriousness in keeping Edo safe.
“These are not the pursuits of a distracted leader. They are the footprints of a man focused on development, driven by duty — because he is involved.
“The beauty of Nigeria’s democracy lies in its plurality — in its allowance for differing voices, divergent views, and shared national aspirations. Governor Okpebholo holds this sacred. He respects every political leader, including Mr Peter Obi, and recognizes the role they play in deepening Nigeria’s democratic space. But, proper protocols must be adhered to by political leaders, including Obi.
“Where misunderstandings arise, it is the responsibility of leaders to clarify, not to condemn. And that is what this moment calls for: clarity. The governor’s comment was not an attack. It was a statement borne out of official protocol, not personal bias.
“Edo is at a defining moment. The mandate given to Governor Okpebholo is not just to build infrastructure but to rebuild trust. As one who listens, learns, and leads.”
