Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, has urged President Bola Tinubu to caution state governors against imposing undemocratic limitations on citizens’ constitutional rights.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Metuh rebuked Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for demanding security clearance from Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, before allowing him to enter the state.

Okpebholo’s warning followed Obi’s recent visit to Benin City, where he donated ₦15 million to a nursing school. The governor linked the visit to a spike in violence, stating:

“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 m. 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.”

Metuh, who is recovering from a spinal procedure, expressed alarm at the governor’s declaration, calling it a threat to democratic principles:

“I have been recuperating from a spinal procedure, but have just read the disturbing news that the elected Governor of Edo State, who is otherwise a decent and distinguished senator, has banned a fellow Nigerian from visiting his state.”

He cautioned that such actions set a dangerous precedent and should not become normalized, drawing a parallel to a similar incident in North Central Nigeria:

“Whilst one understands the zeal to prove wholesome support and loyalty to our president, it is incontrovertible that these acts, completely go against the bedrock and grundnorm of democratic governance, and are antithetical to the constitutionally guaranteed inalienable right to freedom and liberty irrespective of political beliefs or associations.”

Metuh further appealed directly to President Tinubu, reminding him of his legacy of inclusivity as Lagos State governor:

“We remember the Governor Bola Tinubu who ran a widely acclaimed all‑inclusive cabinet/government, and made Lagos home for all Nigerians then.”

He warned that the political elite’s continued silence on such actions could erode Nigeria’s democratic fabric:

“Sadly, so many of our leaders have kept mute either on account of political correctness or for fear of personal reprisals or possible exclusion in the sharing of political appointments or perhaps in their quest for plain material benefits.”

The former PDP spokesman concluded with a direct appeal to the president:

“Let Nigeria truly belong to all citizens and may all persons be accorded their freedom and liberties across the land,”
adding: “check this very disturbing trend by calling these governors to order.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare, presiding overseer of the Global Community Citadel Church (formerly Latter Rain Assembly), has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting a state burial to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also paid tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, describing his role in Nigeria’s political development as pivotal.

Speaking during his “State of the Nation” address at his church auditorium on Sunday, Bakare reflected on the significance of both Buhari and the Awujale passing on the same day, calling it a moment of great national symbolism.

He highlighted Oba Adetona’s instrumental role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his non-partisan status.

“Without Awujale’s pivotal intervention, APC would not have emerged as a political party,” Bakare said.

“Kabiyesi convened a key meeting at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and brokered the agreement that led to the formation of the APC. Even at that, Kabiyesi was non-partisan, supporting any course he thought would facilitate good governance, strengthen the national interest, foster peace and further the course of building a united Nigeria.

“He remained, to the very end, an elder statesman, a patriot, a mentor, a loyal friend, and a rare gift to this nation.”

Bakare recalled that it was Awujale he approached to help convince Tinubu to lead the merger efforts that resulted in the APC’s creation and Buhari’s eventual victory in the 2015 presidential election.

The cleric, who ran as Buhari’s vice-presidential candidate in 2011 under the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), praised Buhari’s character and inclusive leadership style.

He said, “We must awake to the handwriting on the wall. President Muhammadu Buhari and Oba Sikiru Adetona left a legacy that reads loud and clear – The giant of Africa cannot stand on one leg.

“We cannot build Nigeria as a one-party state. The intersection of these two men played a critical role in the emergence of a virile political landscape with a strong enough opposition party to challenge the then-ruling party.

“We can only build on their legacy by ensuring that both the ruling party and the opposition are strong enough to guarantee good governance in the interest of the ordinary Nigerian.

“Their legacy also reminds us that we cannot stabilise our beloved nation on divisiveness. We cannot build a truly virile nation unless we build an inclusive nation.”

“Where we have been divided as a nation, let us remember the religious tolerance of a man who, for years, was wrongly labelled with the toga of religious fundamentalism when indeed, he was one of the most tolerant and fair-minded Muslims to walk this earth, twice opening the doorway for Christian leaders, Pastors to be specific, in politics and governance.”

Bakare further praised Buhari for his role in institutional reforms that empowered younger Nigerians and people with disabilities.

He said, “Where we have, in the past, polarised the political system and undermined political opponents, let us remember the virtues of a man who would rather present his case to the electorate than descend into the politics of mudslinging.”

He noted that Buhari “left a legacy of an Electoral Act that opened the doorway for Nigerian youth and persons with disabilities, positioning them to shatter glass ceilings through the Not Too Young To Run Act and the Disability Act.”

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has denied threatening Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following backlash over comments he made after Obi’s recent visit to the state.

The former Anambra State governor visited Benin City on July 7, 2025, where he donated ₦15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for ongoing projects.

However, Okpebholo condemned the visit, saying it came amid a spike in violence in the state, and warned Obi not to return without prior notice, a statement many interpreted as a threat.

Okpebholo’s remarks sparked criticism from notable Nigerians and social media users, prompting a response from human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who urged him to withdraw the statement and apologise.

But in a statement issued Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the Edo governor insisted his words were misinterpreted.

“The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to various misinterpretations surrounding the recent remarks made by His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, regarding the visit of Mr. Peter Obi to the State,” the statement read.

“It is imperative to state clearly that the Governor did not issue any form of threat to Mr. Obi, but rather emphasized the need for high-profile individuals, particularly politically exposed persons, to notify and seek security clearance from the Governor before embarking on any public engagements within the State.”

The statement argued that, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Okpebholo has a constitutional duty to ensure safety for all residents and visitors — a duty that includes coordinating logistics for high-profile events or visits.

“As the Chief Security Officer of Edo State, it is the Governor’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of all residents and visitors alike,” the statement continued.

“This duty includes ensuring that adequate security measures are put in place during high-profile visits or events that may attract large crowds or media attention.
When such protocols are ignored, it creates serious security vulnerabilities, not only for the visitor but also for citizens who may be caught in avoidable threats.”

The governor’s office emphasized that its concerns stem from the growing trend of violence and abductions in the region, particularly targeting religious leaders.

“In today’s volatile security environment, this wisdom cannot be overstated. Governor Okpebholo is not Peter Obi, who, as Governor of Anambra State, detained Nasir El-Rufai when he visited.”

The statement also pushed back at critics who accused the governor of using the issue for political gain.

“Furthermore, the Governor’s concerns should not be twisted for political mileage by individuals seeking to score cheap points.
The State Government will not fold its arms and allow politically motivated activities to endanger lives.”

“We expect leaders, no matter how highly placed, to align with the protocols and security realities of the areas they visit.”

The government concluded by reiterating the governor’s commitment to public safety and responsible governance.

“Governor Okpebholo is committed to a safe and inclusive Edo State for all. His administration is working tirelessly to address the insecurity it inherited, and his call for coordination and orderliness should be seen as a measure of responsible governance, not hostility.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest appointments, calling them a “desperate attempt to buy back the trust that he has spent over a year squandering, particularly in Northern Nigeria.”

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC dismissed the new appointments as insincere and ineffective, arguing they come far too late to make a meaningful impact.

“You cannot marginalise a region for over twenty-five months and expect applause because you suddenly remembered on the twenty-sixth month that Nigeria is bigger than Lagos State,” Abdullahi stated.

Describing the move as “political panic management,” the ADC alleged that the appointments were aimed at covering up the deep dissatisfaction caused by “over a year of calculated neglect, presidential arrogance and unprecedented nepotism.”

The party pointed to the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria and the economic fallout from the removal of fuel subsidies as signs of Tinubu’s failure to govern inclusively.

“For over a year, this government turned a blind eye as bandits terrorised villages in the north, as our farmers abandoned their land, and as rural economies crumbled under the weight of poorly thought-out fuel subsidy removal,” Abdullahi said.

With rising public discontent and opposition momentum building, the ADC claims the Tinubu-led government is now scrambling to rebuild bridges it spent the past year burning.

“Now, under the rising heat of public discontent, and with the emergence of a formidable opposition coalition gaining traction in the North and across the country, President Tinubu suddenly remembers that there are Nigerians to appoint into positions outside his Lagos,” the party said.

“Every major decision of this administration, from subsidy removal to a majority of the political appointments, have been taken without the North at the table. Now that the consequences of those decisions have become glaring, the President is doling out appointments as consolation prizes.”

Abdullahi emphasized that Northerners are not fooled by what the ADC sees as shallow attempts at appeasement.

“But Northerners as co-owners of our great federal republic know better than to be deceived by these token appointments. They see through President Tinubu’s actions — and can sense that this is not genuine. Tokenism is not inclusion, and symbolism is not governance,” he declared.

Calling for a shift from “Bourdillon-style appeasement politics,” the ADC urged the administration to pursue genuine national inclusion built on fairness and dialogue.

“You cannot patch a broken roof with press releases and photo-ops. And you certainly cannot restore the trust that you have lost with the public by pretending that titles are a substitute for genuine commitment to nation-building.”