The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has downplayed the political strength of presidential aspirant Peter Obi.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television, the governor boasted that the dynamics that shaped previous elections would not repeat themselves.
He asserted that the former Anambra governor would not deliver his home state in the 2027 general elections.
“What should I be afraid of them when I’m doing what the people want? Look at him in his state. Can he even deliver his state? What happened in the past [2023] cannot happen now, because you have a working governor in Edo State, and people love him,” he said.
The governor also addressed concerns about his remarks following Obi’s visit to Edo, which reportedly did not go as planned. Okpebholo maintained that he intended to ensure the opposition figure’s safety, citing security concerns.
“I only told Obi last time; I said, ‘Please, whenever you are coming, because of the hostile environment in this state… when you want to come, let me know so that I will provide you with security.’ Where did I go wrong? I’m trying to protect him,” he said
The governor added that, as a “VIP”, Obi required adequate protection, stressing that informing the state government would enable proper coordination with security agencies.
On national politics, the governor strongly defended President Bola Tinubu, describing him as “the most popular person right now in Nigeria” and attributing recent defections of governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the administration’s performance.
“If the president is not doing well, I don’t think all those governors will move to the APC,” he said, adding that, “Nobody told them to come. They decided to come… we have never had it this good.”
Okpebholo argued that the Tinubu administration had taken bold decisions that previous governments avoided, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“Did you know there are so many tough decisions taken by this president that no man has been able to take in this country that is benefiting Nigeria today? Let’s talk about the removal of the fuel subsidy. Who could have the courage to do that?” he asked.
Responding to criticism from opposition figures over economic hardship and insecurity, the governor dismissed their concerns, suggesting they were unwilling to acknowledge progress.
“These people… believe that if they are not the ones doing it, then nobody is doing it right,” he said.
