Hon. Charles Anike is the National President of Eastern Union (EU), a political pressure group for the people of the Old Eastern Region. In this interview with EJIKEME OMENAZU, he speaks on recent threat of Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo against Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Labour Party?s presidential candidate, among other crucial issues. Excerpt:

Mr. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party visited Edo State for some philanthropic works as part of his birthday programme, but ended up being warned by the Edo governor, Monday Okpehbole not to come to the state again without his permission. How do you see the threat of Obi by the governor?

Well, initially, we thought that the story was a joke, or one of those social media fabrications. But, when video evidences began to emerge and neither the governor nor any of his aides did come out to debunk the news, it was then we knew that it was either the governor had joined Nollywood, or had taken the joke too far. And this of course is one of the reasons why nobody should be imposed on any society to lead. It is very unfortunate that the good people of Edo State accepted the scam imposed on them by the political bandits in their state in connivance with their Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary allies to validate their scam. Ordinarily, in a sane society, Mr. Monday Okpehbolo would not even be elected a councillor, talk more of a local government council chairman. There is absolutely nothing in or around him that should have qualified him to be governor of a whole Edo State, the very home of intellectuals, very widely travelled and very exposed people. We still maintain that it is a very unfortunate situation. This is the result of evils and wickedness of some political actors like Adams Oshiomhole, who are capable of rocking the country?s boat, if citizens continue to fold their arms to watch them. The All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members at all levels have so far shown to be undemocratic elements that do not tolerate opposition. In every little matter, they will call out their attack thugs to unleash mayhem. Mr. Peter, Obi like every other lawful citizen of country, must enjoy the freedom of movement guaranteed by the constitution. What Mr. Monday Okpehbolo said is exactly what every APC governor and every other APC apologist will say and do, including the ones in the Villa. The governor?s request for clearance could have been a little reasonable if Obi had visited Edo State for a political campaign rally, but not on a private visit. President Bola Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari pretended to be democrats but are the opposites. If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members were as uncultured, undemocratic and intolerant of the opposition as the APC, how would they have snatched power easily as they did? Well, the truth is that the accidental governor of Edo State had said exactly what every man with the APC spirit would say. We have witnessed their brutality in Kogi, Imo, Lagos, Kaduna and of course, every APC control states. The party is controlled by destructive spirits.

Going by the provisions of the constitution, would you say it is proper for political leaders to be getting permission of state governors before visiting their states?

That will be madness! Why and what for? In which country has that ever been done? Even during the military era, every law abiding citizen, both big and small moved around freely. The worse the military did was to keep surveillance on perceived enemies of their illegal governments. But, they did not restrict anyone?s movement, or tell anyone to obtain clearance before going to anywhere. The problem is that current Edo governor, and just like most of them at corridors of power presently across the country, are largely illiterates that do not know boundaries and the limits of their powers. All they do is exhibiting their ignorance and absolute power intoxication at any slightest opportunity. What we have all over the country is government of area boys who do everything with impunity. Is it not madness for anyone to ever think the way these APC?s overzealous and uncivilised leaders think?

What should be the position of security agencies when two personalities are on private visit to states?

The roles and positions of security agents should remain sacrosanct, which primarily is to protect lives and property for all, irrespective of who. I can tell you that the biggest problem in Nigeria today is involvement of security agencies in political activities. This ugly trend became more evidence since the APC took over power and corrupted the security agents and that altered their commitment to their sacred mandate. And this is reason many still hold the opinion that the APC leadership of the country is the worst thing that ever happened to Nigeria as a country. They virtually and successfully destabilised and destroyed all the sacred institutions, like people without conscience, who do not believe that tomorrow will come. The security agencies have steadily lost their value in the eyes and consciousness of the ordinary citizens, because they are perceived to be serving only the interests of the rich, their pay masters, especially those holding political offices.

From information available to Nigerians, would you agree with the Edo governor that Peter Obi?s supporters were unruly and really caused deaths of some people? Or would you say that the governor was only throwing political stones to a political opponent?

Yes, l believe the Edo governor was only throwing stones to a political force that is causing APC members sleepless nights. The governor can claim that Obi?s supporters were unruly, but which political supporters can be as unruly as the APC?s supporters? In whichever way one looks at it, the governor was not supposed to also be unruly to issues such making threat statements. It would have been more mature and decent if the governor had first commended Obi for his philanthropic gestures extended to very vital and strategic institutions in his state and then later advise him (Peter Obi), that when next he proposes a visit to his state, he should inform him so that he can make arrangements for adequate security. But, this was not to be, the governor rather chose the APC way. Even the claim that some people died during Obi?s visit was just like giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it, because that allegation was not proven or confirmed by the police. The governor was surely very crude and uncivilised in his approach.

Few other APC states like Benue and Kaduna states also clamped down on Peter Obi?s supporters during his birthday programme. How do you see this emerging trend of the ruling APC governments clamping down on opposition leaders as the nation marches towards the 2027 elections?

Yes, we said it earlier that what the Edo governor did was typical of every APC member and their supporters. They hate anything opposition. They are very crude and always employ violence in their dealings. That same spirit in Buhari and Tinubu, which is ?Go for it, snatch it, and run with it?, that is the same spirit and mindset of every APC person. Immediately Tinubu successfully foisted himself on Nigerians using the platform of corrupt INEC and more corrupt judiciary, then it was dawn on us that we have once again lost our hard earned democracy. We lost our political and economic freedom and peace, because available records in history show that Tinubu detests opposition and does not believe in free, fair and credible elections. His belief before and now is ?Go for it, grab it and run with it?, and of course, we all know that leopard cannot change the colour of its skin overnight. So, therefore, what happened in Benue, Kaduna and elsewhere can happen in any of the APC control states, no difference.

President Bola Tinubu recently made some appointments in favour of the North amidst growing feelings of marginalisation of the region by the administration. Would you say these feelings were genuine and that these appointments are enough to assuage the anger of the North against President Bola Tinubu?

If the North is feeling marginalised under Tinubu, what will the South East people feel? For us, under Tinubu, the North has fared very well and has so far got its fair share of the power sharing at all levels, much more than the East. Which region is the Vice President from? Where is the SGF from? What of the NSA and several others? Tinubu has just continued from where Buhari stopped in nepotism. So, the north should hold their peace and bear with him. It is actually the Eastern Region that is supposed to be crying of marginalisation and not the North. The North should wait because their cry and complains are just coming too early. If Tinubu ever wins second term, the North will know what it means to be marginalised. What they have just seen is just an introduction to the Yorubanisation and Yoruba agenda which Tinubu will be used to execute, if? Tinubu is just pretending now. The North, especially will taste what the East has been into, if Tinubu succeeds in getting his second term ambition, so that next time when the East cry out against marginalisation, the North would have had the bitter experiences. The appointments were good for the gullible northern elites who want to eat their cake and still have It back. Thank God that the people who they expected to continue crying and complaining of marginalisation and had cried and on their own, decided to console themselves and cry no more. Those that usually connived to deny the East opportunities, unfortunately, are now the ones crying out. But, mark my words, more cries will come to the North if Tinubu is allowed to still manoeuvre and wangle his way through again. (Sunday Independent)

Update news