Gladness Gideon
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution state governors against what he described as unconstitutional restrictions on citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Metuh’s statement, made via a Facebook post on Sunday, was in reaction to recent remarks by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who declared that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, must obtain security clearance before entering the state.
The governor, while welcoming former federal lawmaker Marcus Onobun into the All Progressives Congress (APC), had linked Obi’s recent visit to Benin City—where he donated ₦15 million to a nursing school—with an alleged spike in violence, claiming that three people were killed shortly after the visit.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” Okpebholo had said.
In his response, Metuh described the governor’s comments as a direct threat to democracy and the fundamental rights enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution.
“The elected Governor of Edo State, who is otherwise a decent and distinguished senator, has banned a fellow Nigerian from visiting his state,” Metuh wrote, expressing shock at the development.
Metuh, who is currently recuperating from a spinal procedure, warned that such statements—especially from state executives—set dangerous precedents.
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He referenced similar actions by a governor in Nigeria’s North Central region, cautioning against the growing trend of leaders undermining democratic norms in the name of political loyalty.
“Whilst one understands the zeal to prove wholesome support and loyalty to our president, it is incontrovertible that these acts go against the bedrock of democratic governance,” he stated, emphasizing the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement, regardless of political affiliation.
The former PDP spokesman appealed directly to President Tinubu, urging him to preserve the inclusive governance values he was known for as Lagos State governor. “We remember the Governor Bola Tinubu who ran a widely acclaimed all-inclusive cabinet and made Lagos home for all Nigerians,” Metuh said.
He further lamented the silence of many political elites, attributing it to fear of political backlash or self-interest. “Sadly, so many of our leaders have kept mute either on account of political correctness or for fear of personal reprisals or exclusion in the sharing of political appointments,” he noted.
Metuh concluded by calling on President Tinubu to “check this very disturbing trend by calling these governors to order,” stressing that Nigeria must remain a country for all citizens, where individual freedoms and liberties are respected across all states.