WIKE DEFENDS OKPEBHOLO’S SECURITY PROTOCOL AS STANDARD PRACTICE

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has thrown his weight behind the security rationale behind Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directive that former presidential candidate Peter Obi inform state authorities before visiting Edo State. Speaking in Benin City during the launch of Edo’s mass transit buses, Wike framed the directive not as a political threat but as a sensible security protocol.
Wike described how, during Obi’s campaign in Rivers State, he cooperated on logistics and protection as state governor. “When a high-profile figure enters a state, it is customary—as a matter of security—to notify the state leadership,” he said. He stressed that such steps ensure public safety, mitigate operational vulnerabilities, and help the governor fulfill constitutional duty as Chief Security Officer of the state.
Rejecting charges of intimidation, Wike insisted that the arrangement is based on mutual respect and standard practice for state visitation logistics. “Failing to notify the state of such visits could jeopardize security operations and public order,” he warned. His defense of Okpebholo reflects broader debates around political courtesy versus authoritarian overreach, with Wike suggesting the former prevails in this instance.