Actress Destiny Etiko, blogger Tunde Ednut and Davido’s aide Isreal DMW have lashed out at Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for threatening that Labour Party’s Peter Obi must seek clearance before visiting Edo or risk being held responsible for his own safety.
The trio joined many Nigerians online to condemn a viral video in which Okpebholo warned the former presidential candidate against entering Edo State without informing his office.
“There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking,” the governor said during a political gathering.
Isreal DMW reacted on Instagram, calling him an “INEC AND SUPREME COURT GOVERNOR,” a jab at the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s mandate.
Destiny Etiko also questioned the governor’s authority with a brief but pointed response: “As who?”
Tunde Ednut, known for his political commentary online, criticised Okpebholo’s tone, describing it as a threat.
He wrote: “Who talks like this? Is this not a threat?… All these behaviors have to stop before it totally crashes our country… They are afraid he’s gonna steal votes.”
The warning came after Obi’s July 7 visit to Benin City, where he donated N15 million to St. Philomena’s School of Nursing. Governor Okpebholo claimed the visit contributed to unrest in the city.
“He came the other day and gave out N15 million. A man who claims to have no money, where did he get that from? After he left, there was unrest in Benin, and three people lost their lives,” he alleged.
Okpebholo, who took office in November 2024 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has not walked back his remarks. His comments have been described by critics as undemocratic and dangerous, especially ahead of the September 2025 governorship election.
