By Muhammad Mamman
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has publicly defended Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, amid ongoing criticism over Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent visit to Benin City.
Speaking on Tuesday during the commissioning of the newly inaugurated Edo Line Transport Terminal, Wike admonished Obi for what he termed “politicising governance” and “playing to the gallery.”
“Leadership is no walk in the park. As a leader, you’re essentially a dustbin – people throw all sorts at you,” Wike remarked. “I’ve been watching the needless debates unfold on television, and it seems Nigerians forget history far too easily. When I was governor, Peter Obi notified me ahead of his visit to Rivers State. I provided logistics and vehicles for him because, at that level, any incident occurring without the governor’s knowledge would place full responsibility on the state.”
He continued, “It’s disingenuous to politicise a standard security protocol. Obi, knowing the fragile nature of their so-called coalition, should understand the need for proper communication. If anything untoward had occurred, the governor would have been blamed.”
Wike clarified that Governor Okpebholo did not prohibit Obi from entering Edo State, but merely requested prior notification to ensure adequate security arrangements were in place.
“You didn’t say ‘Don’t come,’” Wike said directly to Okpebholo during the event. “All you asked was that he inform you beforehand, so you could fulfil your duty to protect him. That is entirely reasonable.”
He added that during politically charged times, even high-profile figures should act with caution.
“This is a volatile period. If something unfortunate were to happen, people would rush to blame the governor simply because a coalition member was involved. If someone refuses to cooperate, that’s on them. You’ve played your part responsibly. Others are simply posturing for public approval.”
Encouraging the Edo governor to stand by his actions, Wike said: “Remain steadfast in your decisions. If no one is talking about you, then you’re not truly the governor. I know every morning that if I wake up and no headlines mention me, something is wrong. My job is to keep the country talking.”
The FCT Minister’s remarks come in the wake of widespread backlash over Governor Okpebholo’s earlier comments, warning Peter Obi against visiting the state without proper security clearance.
The controversy began after Obi’s 7 July visit to the School of Nursing Sciences at St. Philomena’s Hospital, during which he donated ₦15 million towards ongoing development projects. Okpebholo, through his Chief Press Secretary Fred Itua, later stated that the visit had bypassed necessary security protocols—an omission deemed especially concerning in light of increased attacks on religious figures in the state.
In response, Labour Party senators Victor Umeh, Ireti Kingibe, Ezea Okey, and Tony Nwoye jointly criticised the governor’s stance, labelling it “executive rascality” and “an abuse of office.” Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also called on the governor to retract the statement and issue a public apology.
As of the time of reporting, Peter Obi has yet to comment personally on the matter.
