Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has said his controversial statement that a former Anambra State governor and Labour Party chieftain, Peter Obi, is not safe visiting Edo State without his permission, is based on his constitutional responsibility as the chief security officer given the insecurity in the state.

Mr Okphebholo, in a statement by his spokesperson, Fred Itua on Sunday, said that he was not like Mr Obi, who once detained Mr El-Rufai when he visited Anambra State.

The statement read, “Governor Okpebholo’s position is particularly relevant in light of the rising attacks and abductions of religious leaders, especially Catholic priests and Christian clerics. The state government will not fold its arms and allow politically motivated activities to endanger lives. We expect leaders, no matter how highly placed, to align with the protocols and security realities of the areas they visit.

“As the Chief Security Officer of Edo State, it is the governor’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of all residents and visitors alike. This duty includes ensuring that adequate security measures are put in place during high-profile visits or events that may attract large crowds or media attention. When such protocols are ignored, it creates serious security vulnerabilities, not only for the visitor but also for citizens who may be caught in avoidable threats.”

Recalling how Mr Obi detained a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, when he visited Anambra State in 2013, the statement noted, “Governor Okpebholo is not Peter Obi, who, as governor of Anambra State, detained Nasir El-Rufai when he visited. Furthermore, the governor’s concerns should not be twisted for political mileage by individuals seeking to score cheap points.”

On Mr Okpebholo’s reference to Mr Obi’s last visit during which he donated N15million to Philomena College of Nursing Sciences in Benin City, Edo State, the statement added that the governor’s comments on the need for discretion in public giving were rooted in both security intelligence and moral responsibility.

It added, “The Holy Scripture reminds us that giving is best done in private, as Jesus admonished us in Matthew 6: 2 – 4 that, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpet…but when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. In today’s volatile security environment, this wisdom cannot be overstated.’’

Mr Okpebholo’s statement that he cannot guarantee Mr Obi’s security if he visits Edo State without his permission generated reactions especially among Obi’s supporters.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Femi Falana, on Sunday urged Mr Obi, to take urgent legal action over Mr Okpebholo’s threat to his life.

Mr Falana, in a statement on Sunday, cited mob justice and extrajudicial killings in the country, charging Mr Obi to take swift legal actions should Mr Okphebholo refuse to withdraw the statement.