Benin City Attack: GPAAN Boss Cautions Obi Against Trivializing his Security

By Praise Chinecherem

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi has been advised to maintain his simplistic disposition, but not to be careless about his security by moving around unprotected, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Chairman, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts, GPAAN, Enugu State Chapter, Dr Ambrose Igboke gave the advice in a chat with newsmen, in reaction to the arrest of a suspect in an alleged attack on Mr Obi, and a former governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun.

Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and several other chieftains and members of the opposition All Democratic Congress (ADC), were said to have escaped death by the whiskers on the 24th of last month, when armed men fired several gunshots at them at their party meeting in Benin.

Shortly after the attack, one Udeme Monday Stephen posted on his X account @stevetom788, claiming responsibility for the attack and threatening further attacks on Obi.

Stephen stated online that Obi was lucky to have escaped in Benin, and vowed that the former presidential candidate wouldn’t be that lucky next time.

A source with the Department of State Services, DSS has confirmed that Udeme has been arrested, and would soon be charged to court.

But, the GPAAN Enugu boss is worried that Obi was being too careless about his security, insisting that with the way he moved around without protection, he might put himself in harm’s way.

This, he noted, is because of how porous the political environment in Nigeria is, and how mean its politicians often are.

Igboke recalled how high profile individuals have been killed in the past in the build-up to general elections, and till date, nothing has been done about their murder, nor any meaningful prosecution gone ahead against the suspects arrested.

“I strongly believe Mr Peter Obi is being very careless about his security. Even celebrities who are supposed to mingle with the public are now deploying serious security.

“To be simple is good, but when you are operating in an environment of the jackals, you need to protect yourself from the wild animals.

“We have seen a lot of bad things happen to people in this country and everyone moved on.

“So, I would appeal to Mr Peter Obi to beef up his security. If the state security is not provided for him, he should use private security, especially as we enter the heat of the 2027 general elections,” Igboke advised.

The Enugu GPAAN boss, however, expressed concerns that such unfortunate would occur in Edo State, which has a record of sustained democratic structures dating back to the Benin Kingdom, over 600 years ago.

He said the Governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo should be worried that his state cannot host a meeting of the opposition, noting that the development is a threat to democracy.

“Again, for this to happen in Edo State, I think the governor should be concerned that the opposition cannot hold meetings in his state. And this is just meetings, what then happens during the campaign proper.

“Edo state prides itself as a democratic state for over 600 years, dating back to the Benin Kingdom, with governance structures that have worked for them. So, the governor should take heed.

“We pray that 2027 does not portray bloodshed. Eliminating your opposition should not be the case. Your strength should be in your ability to convince the electorate based on what you have been able to do or the promise you are making,” he said.

The social affairs commentator, who spoke on sundry issues, also weighed in on the recently appointed Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, and his expectations from him as he assumes office.

According to him, his first expectation is for the new IGP to focus on improving the welfare of officers and men, pushing for the total implementation of the Police Act of 2020.

His words, “Police is the least paid of all the security agencies in Nigeria. After 35 years of service, someone is leaving with 1.5 million as severance package. That is pathetic!

“A Captain is earning about 12 million while his counterpart in the police is getting about 1.8 million.

“Also the issue of barracks should be looked into. Most police officers transferred from one state to another stay in shanties and uncompleted buildings. How do we expect professionalism from them when they live in such uninhabitable places?

“So, the new IGP should stop all these things that his predecessors have focused on- tinted permit, joint VIP escort and other irrelevant things. He should look into the welfare of the police so that the force can become effective.”