Nollywood actor and constitutional lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly condemned Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over comments perceived as a threat to the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking during a recent interview, Okonkwo described the governor’s remarks as “reckless, unconstitutional, and a direct insult to the Igbo people.” He said the governor’s statement suggesting Obi’s security could not be guaranteed without seeking clearance before visiting Edo State amounted to an unlawful threat.
“If a strand of hair falls from Peter Obi, the governor must be held accountable. This is a direct attack,” Okonkwo said. “Since when did a Nigerian need a governor’s permission to enter a state? The constitution guarantees freedom of movement.”
He criticized the notion that protocol or permission is needed for private citizens or politicians to travel within Nigeria, adding, “You don’t even need permission to protest peacefully, how much more to visit a state.”
Citing literary inspiration, Okonkwo likened Okpebholo to Julius Caesar’s warning about dangerous men with “lean and hungry looks,” and accused him of harboring malicious intent. “If you visit his office, you might not even find him there. He should stop it!” Okonkwo exclaimed.
When prompted by an interviewer to moderate his tone, Okonkwo retorted, “What decorum did the governor maintain when he threatened a Nigerian citizen?”
He vowed to take legal action if the governor fails to issue a public apology to Obi. Responding to a press statement by the governor’s spokesperson that the comments were taken out of context, Okonkwo dismissed it as “belated damage control” and “a lie added to misdeed.”
While acknowledging his own occasional disagreements with Obi, Okonkwo defended the former Anambra governor’s right to express himself and operate freely. “Disagreeing with someone doesn’t mean you can infringe on their constitutional rights. Obi is entitled to his freedom,” he said.
He also warned Obi against continued silence in the face of political threats, referencing a similar incident involving the Benue State Governor. “This is becoming a pattern. He needs to push back.”
When asked about Edo APC chairman Jared Tenebe’s harsher comments, Okonkwo declined to respond, dismissing him as “inconsequential” and “seeking relevance.”
The actor also accused Governor Okpebholo of tribal bias, arguing that he would not have used such language against a northern or Yoruba leader. He cited a recent incident in which the governor reportedly traveled to Kano to appease northern leaders after tensions in Edo.
“The governor’s actions reveal deep-seated ethnic bias. His threat to Obi is a threat to all Igbos,” Okonkwo asserted. “It’s unacceptable, and it must be challenged.”
Advertisement
