By Dr. DAVID O. WILLIAM

In what will go down as one of the most ignominious displays of executive intolerance in recent Nigerian history, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has chosen to betray both his office and the Constitution by launching a verbal assault against Mr. Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

What triggered this shameful outburst? Peter Obi’s act of goodwill — a private, apolitical donation to a secondary school in Edo State aimed at uplifting educational infrastructure and offering a better future for children.

Rather than commend this rare gesture in a country starved of ethical leadership, Governor Okpebholo declared Mr. Obi persona non grata and went further to issue a veiled threat by claiming he could not guarantee Obi’s safety should he return to the state. This is not governance — this is gangsterism cloaked in a governor’s robe.

Let us be unequivocal: such a declaration is unconstitutional, unprovoked, and utterly disgraceful. It smacks of executive insecurity, emotional fragility, and intellectual mediocrity. It is a vivid symptom of what happens when small men ascend to great offices — they shrink the dignity of the position rather than rise to its responsibilities.

Nigeria is not a monarchy of fiefdoms, and Edo State is not Governor Okpebholo’s personal property. It belongs to all Nigerians. Every citizen — regardless of political affiliation — has the right to move freely, associate freely, and contribute to the common good. To suggest otherwise is to spit on the Constitution and invite anarchy.

Peter Obi, a man admired for his simplicity, fiscal discipline, and visionary leadership, did not arrive in Edo State with a political convoy. He came with goodwill, humility, and support for education — the very sector this administration has largely neglected. And for that, he is branded a threat?

Only a leader terrified of his own inadequacies would feel endangered by an act of public generosity.

What makes Okpebholo’s behavior even more egregious is the hypocrisy it reveals. Here is a man who ascended to power through the backdoor of political favoritism and judicial maneuvering — not through any demonstrated capacity or sweeping mandate. One would expect such a leader to govern with humility, to compensate for his shaky legitimacy by serving the people with gratitude. Instead, he has chosen the path of vengeance, envy, and public disgrace.

His threat against Peter Obi is not just an insult to one man — it is an assault on the very idea of democratic plurality. It sends a chilling message: that in Okpebholo’s Edo State, goodness is treason, and kindness from political opponents is punishable by intimidation.

This is not leadership. It is the tyranny of a frightened man.

The international community, Nigeria’s civil society organizations, the National Human Rights Commission, and INEC must all take note. This reckless and irresponsible rhetoric sets a dangerous precedent. It emboldens political thuggery, weakens national unity, and turns democracy into a theatre of fear.

It must be condemned — swiftly, forcefully, and permanently.

Mr. Obi, for his part, must remain undeterred. His silent revolution of accountability and compassion is resonating across the nation. In contrast to the noise and threats of men like Okpebholo, Obi’s actions speak louder and with moral authority.

If Governor Okpebholo cannot tolerate the presence of a good man, then perhaps he fears the mirror Obi holds up to him — a mirror that reflects his inadequacies, his wasted mandate, and his shrinking relevance.

This moment should be a wake-up call for Nigerians: never again should we entrust power to those who fear ideas, resent charity, and punish decency. The nation deserves leaders, not lords. Statesmen, not strongmen. Builders, not brutes.

Until then, let us never forget: when governance descends into gangsterism, it is the people who suffer first — and history that will judge last.

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