The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has declared that no individual or group has a monopoly of violence, insisting that nobody can stop him from visiting any part of Nigeria.
Obi made the remarks while reacting to the recent Benin City incident and subsequent social media threats warning him against travelling to certain parts of the country. He spoke during a visit to Peter University in Achina, Anambra State.
“I am a Nigerian, and I am free to go to any part of this country. It is a constitutional right that nobody can take away from me. But let me make it clear, nobody has a monopoly of violence,” he said.
He explained that despite warnings not to visit Rivers State, he honoured an earlier invitation shortly after the Benin incident, stressing that threats did not deter him from travelling.
Obi, who has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleged that there were orchestrated efforts to keep him off the ballot, adding that such moves would not stop his ambition.
“I’m not desperate to be the President of Nigeria, but I’m desperate to see Nigeria work,” he said, arguing that the country’s system is skewed against the poor and that opportunities should be accessible to all citizens.
He called for a free and fair electoral process, stating that political actors with power and influence should allow open competition.
On his departure from the Labour Party, Obi said internal leadership disputes and court cases over party control informed his decision to leave. He claimed that although favourable court judgments were obtained, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially declined to recognise them, only for similar orders to be acknowledged later.
He also alleged that constitutional amendments were being considered to frustrate his political ambition.
Obi reiterated his commitment to contesting elections, stressing that his focus remains on advocating for a functional system that creates opportunities for every Nigerian.
