Benin Assassination Attempt: Nobody Has Monopoly of Violence, I Can’t Be Restricted — Obi

By Tony Okafor, Awka

Former governor of Anambra State and 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has warned that no individual or group has a monopoly of violence.

The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections was reacting to an alleged attempt on his life in Benin City weeks ago and threats circulating on social media warning him against visiting certain parts of the country.

Obi, who has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spoke to journalists on Friday during a visit to Peter University, Anambra State.

“I’m 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,” Obi said.

Explaining why he travelled to Rivers State despite a strong warning that he should not step foot in the state, Obi said the threats did not deter him from honouring the invitation shortly after the Benin incident.

According to him, he would not be intimidated by such warnings.

“Let me make it clear,” he said, “nobody has a monopoly of violence.”

Obi also declared that he would contest the 2027 presidential election and would not be intimidated by what he described as the dominance of governors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He alleged that there had been
orchestrated efforts to keep him off the 2027 ballot but insisted that such moves would not deter him from pursuing his ambition.

“I’m not desperate to be the president of Nigeria; I’m desperate to see Nigeria work,” he said.

At Nimo, in Njikoka Local Government Area, Obi attended an empowerment programme organised by the member representing Dunukofia/Njikoka/Anaocha Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, George Ozodinobi.

Addressing supporters at the event, the former governor lamented what he described as the collapse of Nigeria’s socio-economic system and called for urgent efforts to rebuild the country.

“Nigeria has collapsed and is already lying on the ground. Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are hungry and greedy. They have everything they need but are still scavenging for more,” he said.

Commenting on the Ozodinobi empowerment programme, Obi said such initiatives were necessary but regretted that some well-to-do individuals often scramble for items meant for the less privileged.

“This is an empowerment programme, but you will be surprised that many well-to-do persons will come here to struggle for things they do not need. Go to their compounds and you will see better vehicles than the ones they are struggling for,” he said.

He maintained 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,” he said.

Obi also explained his recent decision to leave the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, citing prolonged leadership disputes within the party and what he described as the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise court judgments in favour of his faction in Labour Party.

“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 recognised in January,” he said.

Obi also alleged that certain constitutional amendments were being considered to frustrate his political ambition.
“But I want to tell them that with their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair and see who wins,” Obi said.

“I want to announce to you all that 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.”

He commended Ozodinobi for organising the empowerment programme, noting that such initiatives underscored the importance of electing quality representatives to the National Assembly.

“If you send good people to Abuja, they will continue to remember their constituents and support them,” Obi said.