Open Letter to the Inspector General of Police: A Call for Obaseki to Come to Order Over Inflammatory Statements

Open Letter to the Inspector General of Police: A Call for Obaseki to Come to Order Over Inflammatory Statements

The APC New Media Directorate has issued an urgent call to Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., to address recent inflammatory statements made by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. In a widely circulated video, Governor Obaseki is seen challenging the police to arrest his associates, alleged to have been involved in the assassination attempt on Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate, at the Benin City airport last week.

Governor Obaseki’s rhetoric, including the incendiary claim that “Nigeria would burn,” has raised serious concerns about the stability and security of Edo State. The governor’s remarks have been described as not only irresponsible but also dangerous, particularly given accusations that he sponsors a local vigilante group implicated in the attack. Instead of addressing the loss of a police officer, Obaseki was seen boasting about his ability to protect his associates from arrest.

This behavior questions the governor’s respect for the rule of law and the authority of the Nigerian Police Force. The APC Directorate emphasized that if the police cannot arrest those involved in criminal activities, the rule of law is undermined. Governor Obaseki’s statements are seen as a display of arrogance and impunity, directly challenging police authority.

The APC Directorate urges IGP Egbetokun to take decisive action to reassure the people of Edo State that the law will prevail and that justice will be served. The citizens deserve a peaceful and violence-free electoral process, and the Directorate calls for the Nigerian Police Force to protect all citizens and maintain order, ensuring no one is above the law.