Peter Obi has said that lawlessness is not new to him after failed Edo assasination attempt and thanked Nigerians for solidarity.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that experiences of lawlessness are “not new” to him following the reported attack on him, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, and other chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Obi expressed gratitude to Nigerians at home and abroad who reached out in solidarity after the incident at the ADC office in Benin.
“I am profoundly grateful to Nigerians from around the world for your prayers, calls, and solidarity following the incident at the ADC office in Benin yesterday,” he said.
Obi also acknowledged the support shown to the family of Chief Odigie-Oyegun and former Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, noting that the encouragement strengthened his faith in the country’s collective hope for a better future.
The incident reportedly occurred during the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the ADC.
According to Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, armed individuals allegedly trailed the group from the ADC Secretariat to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence in Benin City.
Tanko claimed the attackers fired shots at the gate and damaged several vehicles in what he described as a survived assassination attempt. Photos and videos shared online showed damaged gates and shattered SUV windscreens, raising concerns about political tensions in the state.
Edo Government Denies Allegations
The development follows earlier remarks by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who in July 2025 stated that Obi should notify him before visiting the state for security reasons. The governor had maintained that the directive was purely for safety purposes.
However, the Edo State Government dismissed allegations of targeted attacks as “false and malicious.” In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, the administration denied issuing any directive to target members of any political party.
The government also suggested that the incident coincided with internal disputes within the ADC, referencing reports that a faction led by former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie was denied access to a meeting at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.
‘Leadership Must Restore Order’
Reflecting on the episode, Obi said experiences of insecurity were not unfamiliar to him, recalling how violence in Anambra State shaped his earlier resolve to seek leadership.
“Experiences of lawlessness are not new to me,” he stated, adding that Nigeria’s growing insecurity calls for responsible leadership and civic engagement.
Quoting Plato, Obi said, “The price good people pay for refusing to participate in government is to live under the rule of bad people.”
He urged Nigerians to remain resolute in electing leaders defined by competence, character, and compassion, stressing that collective courage and unity are essential to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
