Paraphrased Content:A civil society group, under the banner of the Nigerian Patriotic Forum (NPF), has called on the United States Embassy to impose a visa ban on the newly sworn-in Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo. This follows what the group described as a dangerous and undemocratic threat made by the governor against the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a petition addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the group accused Governor Okpebholo of issuing a veiled threat against Obi, warning him not to step into Edo State without clearance. The statement has since sparked public outrage, with critics viewing it as a direct attack on democratic values and freedom of movement.
The NPF argued that such inflammatory remarks from a sitting governor are unbecoming of a democratic leader and risk inciting political violence. They urged the U.S. to take swift action by placing a travel restriction on Okpebholo, stating that this would send a strong message that democratic intimidation will not be tolerated by the international community.
According to the group, the petition is part of a broader campaign to hold public officeholders accountable for statements and actions that threaten Nigeria’s fragile democracy. They believe a visa ban would serve as a deterrent to other political figures considering similar conduct.
