By Ogbeide Ifaluyi-isibor
The last 24 hours have been quite interesting as the entire nation watched the Governor of Edo State make some very uncharitable remarks while he warned former Governor of Anambra State H.E Peter Obi not to visit the state unless his permission is requested as Mr Obi’s security will not be guaranteed without his consent and in his words, He should take whatever he gets.
Well! Let’s me start by saying that that’s not who we are. The Edo people are generally hospitable and very accommodating. We are a decent nation congregated by largely educated and exposed people, we do not issue unwarranted threats to friends or even foes.
It is generally agreed that the leader of a community is but a reflection of the people in that community. It is also generally acknowledged that to every rule or assumption, there’s an exception. Please! This is an obvious exception for us in Edo. This Governor appears not to be a true reflection of us in words and in deeds.
Let’s make it also clear that this was the creation of INEC and not the generality of the Edo people as determined by their votes in a democracy.
I received several calls and messages bothering on the video that has since gone viral and the first explanation I gave was that Governor Godwin Obaseki was no longer Governor of Edo State and this new “Chair-riff” in town is like “Alice in wonderland ” he was obviously over excited and didn’t submit his words to much thoughts.
We are asking the general public and especially Mr Peter Obi to regard that video as a skit from an upcoming content creator who is trying hard to get monetized.
No Nigerian alive has the capacity or imprimatur by the Constitution to prevent any Nigerian from visiting or living in any part of Nigeria. Nobody needs the permission of anybody to visit any state of his choice in Nigeria.
The world knows of the love Edo people have for Peter Obi and the truth is that even if Mr Obi joins “Birthday Party or end of year Party”, by 2pm on Election day, that party would have won the highest number of lawful votes in the polling unit of the Governor. We are Edo people and we know what political value anyone brings to the table.
When Peter Obi was Governor, our brother was probably searching for miracle centers in Jos where he could write WAEC and pass for the last time, so let’s allow this slide and forgive the error.
We and our ancestors love all and welcome all to our dear state.
Lately, the State Government appears seemingly intolerable of dissenting opinions or views so let me apologize to anyone in Government House who may be offended by this piece because I no fit for police case abeg.
Ogbeide Ifaluyi-isibor is Entrepreneur, Politician, Honourable Commissioner for Digital Economy, Science and Technology Edo State(2023-2024)
