Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has condemned recent attacks on opposition figures in the country, saying that no group has a monopoly of violence.
Last Tuesday, Obi and some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were attacked in Benin city, the Edo state capital, according to Yunusa Tanko, national coordinator of the Obidient movement.
In a post on X, Tanko said the opposition figures were attacked at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a chieftain of the party and former governor of Edo state.
Reacting in a separate post on X two days later, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC national publicity secretary, described the attack as “a grave and disturbing development”, which amounts to a major setback for the country’s democracy.
Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, condemned the incident, describing it as a spillover of intra-party disputes that had escalated beyond control.
The governor accused unnamed individuals of importing thugs from outside Edo to disrupt the state’s peace under the guise of politics, while the Edo state police command said it has commenced an investigation into the attack.
‘NOBODY HAS A MONOPOLY OF VIOLENCE’
However, speaking on Friday during a visit to Peter University, Achina, in Anambra state, Obi condemned the attack and subsequent threats circulating on social media warning him against visiting certain parts of the country.
“I am a Nigerian, and I am free to go to any part of this country. It is a constitutional right that nobody can take away from me. But let me make it clear, nobody has a monopoly of violence,” he said, according to Vanguard.
Obi referenced his recent visit to Rivers state despite a strong warning that he should not step his foot in the state, adding that the threat did not deter him from honouring an earlier invitation shortly after the Benin incident.
The former governor also declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform, saying that no forces can deter him from pursuing his ambition.
“I’m not desperate to be the president of Nigeria, but I’m desperate to see Nigeria work. Nigeria has collapsed and is already lying on the ground,” he said.
“Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are greedy. They have everything they need but are still scavenging for more.
“No matter what they do, I must contest the election. Let them declare a free and fair contest, bring the ball to the centre of the field and declare it started, and let us see what happens. With their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair.”
He added that the country’s system was skewed against the poor and reiterated his belief that Nigeria should be a place where opportunities are open to all citizens.
“We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” Obi said.
The former governor further hinged his decision to quit the LP on the “prolonged leadership disputes within the party”, attributing parts of the blame to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“You all know that I’m now in ADC. People have been asking why I left LP. We had been in court over the leadership of the Labour Party and secured favourable judgements, but INEC refused to recognise them,” he said.
“When I left on December 31, the same orders they were rejecting were suddenly recognised in January.”
