By PETER ANOSIKE

An Igbo pressure group, Igbodum Multi-cultural Organization, has strongly condemned Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s verbal attack Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking at an emergency press conference in Lagos, the president general of the organization, Prince Chuks Emechebe, said that by the verbal attacks, Gov. Okpebholo is trying to bite more than he can chew.

He said that Gov. Okpebholo should know that Igbodum Multi-cultural Organization is not taking the threat lightly, adding that he would be held responsible should anything untoward happen to Peter Obi.

Prince Emechebe further stated that 1999 constitution guarantees freedom of movement to all Nigerians and that the governor saying that Obi is not free to visit Edo State, is infringing on his fundamental human right.

According to him, some people want to create the impression that they are the sun that all the other planets must revolve around.

He said that Okpebholo and his ilk must know that Nigeria belongs to all and never to certain individuals.

“We, the members of Igbodum Multicultural Organization, condemn in very strong terms, the verbal attack on Peter Obi by the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and we want it to be on record that whatever happens to Peter Obi, he must be held responsible. We are not taking the threat lightly and we also want to use this medium to warn others who are talking as if Igbos are not bonafide citizens of Nigeria to desist from it because it will not continue to be business as usual. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the right of every Nigerian citizen to move freely and reside in any part of the country. It is therefore disturbing and constitutionally indefensible for Governor Okpebholo to threaten or seek to restrict this fundamental right,” Prince Emechebe said.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other eminent Nigerians to join in the condemnation of Governor Okpebholo’s unguarded and uncharitable utterances.