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Abaribe Warns Okpebholo Over Obi Visit Threat

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2025

Former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has raised alarm over what he described as a constitutional violation and a direct threat by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to a Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

Abaribe, who currently chairs the South East Senate Caucus, issued a stern warning to Okpebholo for allegedly placing movement restrictions on Obi.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, the lawmaker expressed concern over what he termed the “unconstitutional overreach” by Okpebholo.

“It is very unfortunate that it seems our dear country is fast descending into lawlessness with this mindset, and I pray that nothing happens to Mr Peter Obi,” he warned.

According to Abaribe, the governor lacked the legal authority to prevent any Nigerian citizen from entering or moving freely within Edo State.

“Nigeria is still a constitutional democracy where the rights of everyone, particularly citizens of Nigeria, are guaranteed,” Abaribe stated.

“It is, therefore, disheartening that leaders who are supposedly the custodians of the letter and spirit of the 1999 constitution as amended would decide to willfully be at the driving seat of its denigration in the name of politics,” he added.

The senator warned that the governor’s actions could set a dangerous precedent that threatens the core of Nigeria’s democratic ideals.

“So one wonders where the Edo State governor derives his powers to bar a Nigerian citizen from visiting his state unless such a person obtains permission from him; otherwise, the person’s security will not be guaranteed.

“That is a dangerous threat to life that the authorities should not gloss over,” Abaribe said.

He described the development as an unfortunate signal of rising lawlessness and implored authorities to intervene before it escalated further.

Abaribe reminded Governor Okpebholo, himself a senator, of the constitutional principles that guide leadership and governance, especially in a diverse federation like Nigeria.

“Governor Okpebolo, a senator and as such a lawmaker, needs to be reminded that Nigeria belongs to all of us and that he is dead wrong to claim authority that he does not have.

“The beauty of democracy is made manifest in the expression of freedom to hold divergent views and the freedom of movement of every Nigerian in any part of the Nigerian Federation, Edo State inclusive,” he concluded.

Related Topics:Abaribe Okpebholo Peter Obi

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Boko Haram Once Nominated Muhammadu Buhari As Negotiator – Jonathan Revealed

Published

3 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their negotiator.

Jonathan said Boko Haram chose Buhari to negotiate with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

He made the disclosure while speaking at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.

Jonathan said the insurgents named Buhari after his then-administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the group.

Jonathan said: “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and had a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan noted that the inability of Buhari to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists showed that the crisis was more complex than often portrayed.

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Edo: Pandemonium As NDLEA Operatives Chase Escaping Driver With Shooting

Published

5 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium at Oka Market, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Friday, as operatives of the State Command of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot sporadically in chase of an escaping driver.

In the course of the commotion, traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets, while others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.

The sporadic gunshots which lasted more than five minutes at the gate of the NDLEA Head Office, by Oka Market, followed a hot chase of an articulated vehicle driver who was said to have brushed their (NDLEA) vehicle.

The driver, who reportedly brushed the NDLEA vehicle refused to stop for negation, which prompted officers at the scene to alert their colleagues who waited at the alert.

According to eyewitnesses, as the escaping articulated driver approached the NDLEA office, officers who were said to have been alerted by their colleagues pursuing the trailer began to shoot.

Seven of the tyres of the trailer were deflated by bullets of the NDLEA operatives yet the driver refused to stop.

The officers continued to shoot while pursuing him, until he was caught.

A source said that the driver brushed their vehicle on the way, and that every effort by the officers to stop him so they could settle the matter proved abortive; hence the gunshots and deflation of the tires.

“It was a simple thing; they jammed our men, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop. That is why the men have been shooting to stop him. Even after bursting about seven tires, he was still running, but we caught him and they are bringing him back to our office,” he concluded.

Calls and messages sent to the commander, Edo State NDLEA Command, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, were not responded to as at when filing this.

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JUST IN: Court Bars Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Regulation

Published

6 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the controversial tinted glass permit.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, came up for hearing today.

Delivering the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.

Confirming the development, Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team, noted that the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.

Details of the ruling and the next adjourned date are expected shortly.

Further updates coming soon…