Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused the Benue State government of politicizing his planned visits to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and health institutions in the state, alleging that his humanitarian trip was deliberately blocked.
In a statement released Monday, Obi expressed disappointment over the Benue State Government's reaction to his scheduled visit, which was part of a two-state tour starting in Plateau State on April 13 and continuing in Benue on April 14. He noted that while the Plateau State Governor welcomed his visit, he struggled to contact Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia directly.
"I tried repeatedly to contact the Benue State Governor directly without success. I then successfully contacted his ADC who told me that the governor was in a very important meeting and would call me before midnight on the same day," Obi stated. He received no feedback until Sunday evening when the ADC informed him he had been unable to reach the governor for three days.
Despite the lack of communication, Obi decided to proceed, viewing the meeting with the governor as a matter of "courtesy and respect." However, en route to Makurdi from Jos on Monday morning, his security team received a press statement, allegedly from the Benue State Government, indicating that his visit was unwelcome. Obi noted that the statement contained details matching his itinerary, which had been shared with the ADC and security operatives in Benue State.
Obi insisted that his visit was purely humanitarian and devoid of political motives. "I am forced to remind them, and all concerned, that the purpose of this journey is to support good causes in areas of critical development: health and health education, education, and caring for our people in need," he said, emphasizing his long history of humanitarian work.
In a contrasting statement, Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, stated that the state government was unaware of any planned visit and could not guarantee the safety of individuals entering the state without prior clearance. The statement, titled “Notice Regarding Unscheduled Visit to Benue State,” warned that “all individuals or groups intending to visit IDPs in Benue State must first seek and obtain written permission from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA."
Alia also cautioned against gatherings that could be interpreted as political, urging security agencies and residents to "maintain peace and order." The conflicting accounts highlight the strained relations and underscore the increasing politicization of humanitarian efforts, according to Obi.