Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has vowed to return to Edo State if the need arises, despite recent threats allegedly made by Governor Monday Okpebholo regarding his safety.
Naijaonpoint reports that Obi stated this on Thursday while addressing journalists in Awka, Anambra State, shortly after making a ₦50 million donation to his alma mater, Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha.
Reacting to Governor Okpebholo’s warning that his safety could not be guaranteed in Edo, Obi dismissed the statement as inconsequential, saying he regularly receives threats across the country.
The former Anambra State governor emphasised that his visit to Edo was driven by a passion to invest in people and contribute to societal development, rather than politics.
He said, “Threats don’t make any meaning to me. I receive threats everyday. Do you know how many times I have been threatened all over Nigeria? I receive threats everyday actually, the ones you know about was because it was vocal, but I will not be afraid.
“If I have the opportunity to go to Benin and make donations again, trust me, I will. I have always said that we should de-emphasize politics and think more of how to invest in the people. I went to Benin to invest in people because if they have good doctors, good nurses, they will have a better life.
“What the governor should have done is to complement what I was doing in his state instead of threatening me. He should be sincerely grateful.
“I’m in school today to make a donation, I’m going to be in school somewhere in Nigeria tomorrow too. I’m going to be in school on Saturday, I’m going to be in school on Sunday and even on Monday. Forget about the threat, it’s a waste of time.”
Explaining further, Obi said he spoke with some old boys about the school’s need for a staff quarters and a better administrative building, and they agreed to provide funding.
He said, “I say it everyday that those who have verifiable honest means of livelihood should endeavour to invest to schools, invest in society, invest in health, lift people from poverty and empower others. I did not say go and steal money and donate to schools.
“I just spoke to one or two old boys of this school that we don’t have teachers quarters, we don’t have staff quarters and administrative blocks and they decided to donate. That is what people should be doing.”