The former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said no individual or group holds a monopoly of violence, insisting that no one can prevent him from visiting any part of the country.
Obi made the remarks while reacting to the Benin City incident and threats circulating on social media warning him against visiting certain parts of Nigeria. He spoke during a visit to Peter University.
“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.
The former governor also explained why he travelled to Rivers State despite strong warnings advising him not to step foot in the state. He said such threats did not deter him from honouring an earlier invitation shortly after the incident in Benin City.
Obi, who has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleged that there had been coordinated attempts to prevent him from appearing on the 2027 ballot, adding that such efforts would not discourage 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. 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,” Obi said.
He maintained that Nigeria’s system is structured against the poor and reiterated his belief that the country should be one where opportunities are open to every citizen.
“We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” he said.
On leaving Labour Party
Obi also explained his decision to leave the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, attributing the move to prolonged leadership disputes within the party and what he described as the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise court judgments.
“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 judgments, but INEC refused to recognise them.
“When I left on December 31, the same orders they were rejecting were suddenly recognized in January,” he said.
He further alleged that certain constitutional amendments were being considered to frustrate his political ambition.