The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, on Tuesday defied the order of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State not to visit the state without a clearance from the Government House, as he visited the state where he made a donation to a Catholic hospital in Benin City.
Obi, a former two-term governor of Anambra State, donated N15 million to the St Philomena College of Nursing, Benin City, Edo State capital.
The former LP Chieftain, who is now a presidential hopeful in the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), it would be recalled, had made a similar visit to Edo State in 2025, which did not sit well with Governor Okpebholo, who later asked that the politician should inform the government anytime he wanted to visit the state.
Okpebholo, had, while giving the caution, hinged his stance on the security risk Obi’s presence could pose and the need for the state government to be informed ahead to put measures in place for security and safety of the former Anambra State governor, warning that Obi would be blame for whatever consequences he suffered if he failed to follow the protocol expected of a politically exposed personality of his ranking.
The governor’s position attracted public reactions,, with many arguing that Okpebholo overreached himself.
When asked if he sought and obtained the governor’s permission for his Tuesday visit, Obi declined to comment.
Speaking after making the donation, Obi said he would rather donate to support humanity than give out money to buy votes.
He lamented that there were no primary health care in all villages in the country, whereas some neighbouring countries had 90 per cent medical insurance coverage.
The ADC chieftain added that there was need to invest in the future of children in the country.
“I came last year, and I said I will come at least once in a year. It is very important. Our support to this college is to the students. We are investing in you for our better living. We are not dashing you anything. The investment in you will contribute to securing the future.
“Here is a country, where, if you go to all the villages, there are no primary health care. In other countries, they have over 90 per cent medical insurance coverage. Every village has a primary health care manned by two or three nurses. We don’t have enough nursing schools. Nurses are needed all over the world,” Obi further lamented.
He added that he had been the vanguard of better healthcare delivery system before he joined politics.
“I am not doing it for politics. Most places where I go, they don’t vote. We need to invest in the future of these children. I don’t want to give money to people to vote for me. God created us to do this to ensure a better society.” Obi emphasised.
In his remarks, the Administrator for the Colllege of Nursing Sciences, Rev Jerome Idibe, thanked Obi for coming to the facility and for the generous donation.