By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, said he has no regret asking Peter Obi to seek clearance before entering the state.
He said this during the official commissioning ceremony of the new Edo Line buses in Benin City.
Okpebholo said his comment has been widely criticized even on the social media but he is not disturbed by that, stressing that, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he deserves to know so that he can provide the necessary security for the individual entering his state.
Okpebholo said that what he said was not new because he was once told by the former Commissioner of Police in the state at the airport that whenever he was coming to the state, he should notify the police so that they can provide him adequate security.
He said that he saw no difference with what he has just said adding that, be that as it may, he has no regret at all.
“Even , when they said I don’t talk, I just made one statement and everybody was crying. I strictly said, it is an advice, don’t come to Edo without telling me. Was I chewing hot yam? Do I need to add one to three to make people understand me? Do I need to read encyclopedia for people to understand me? My work is not only to work for Edo people, but also to save Edo people’s lives and visitors coming to Edo. If telling him to notify me before coming to Edo is a crime, so be it. I have no regrets about it. Before you come into Edo State notify me.
“I went through this same process. I was advised when I came to the airport by then Commissioner of Police to remain at the airport. I ignored the advice and went out. My police escort was shot dead before my eyes. I have advised the former Governor of Anambra State, if he likes let him take it, if he likes let him dwell on social media it does not concern me”, Okpebholo said.
Corroborating the state governor, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, said that the Edo State governor was never wrong in his statement to the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
He said the governor didn’t say that Obi should not come to Edo State but that, what he simply said was that, notify him when coming.
Wike further warned those blowing the statement out of proportion to stop playing politics with the governor’s comment, stressing that he strongly aligns himself with the Edo State governor.
The FCT Minister apologized to the people of the state for supporting and working to ensure that Godwin Obaseki became the governor of the state.
He said the eight years of the past governor of the state was a disaster adding Monday Okpebholo has come to right the wrongs of the past administration.
He commended the state governor for his ongoing projects across the state, stressing that, despite his court case then, he was still busy awarding and supervising projects across the state.
He said other governors would have hidden under that guise to halt projects in their states but Okpebholo didn’t do that.
He further lauded Okpebholo for the commissioning of the buses, pointing out that it will help to create jobs for the people of the state.
