The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has revealed how the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, stopped him from visiting Internally Displaced Persons and a nursing school in the state.
The former two-term governor of Anambra State made this known on Monday in Abuja after he was stopped from visiting Benue State.
Obi said he had scheduled visits to Plateau and Benue States as part of his ongoing efforts at supporting IDPs and promoting health and education initiatives.
He said that the visits, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, were to include courtesy calls on the governors of the two states, visits to IDP camps, and interactions with some institutions such as schools of nursing.
He said that he had reached out to the Plateau State Government to notify it of the visit.
He stated that the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, had graciously welcomed him and provided all necessary supports, allowing him to spend meaningful time with the victims at the Bokkos IDP camp.
The former presidential candidate, however, said that he was not able to establish a direct contact with the Benue State Governor in spite of several attempts.
He said that he eventually succeeded in speaking with the governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC) who informed him that Alia was engaged in an important meeting, but promised to return his call before midnight.
Obi, however, said that the call never came, and days later, the ADC sent him a message claiming he had been unable to reach the governor, a situation he described as “deeply troubling”.
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He reiterated that his visit was driven purely by humanitarian motives, to support in critical areas of development, including health care, education, and welfare of displaced Nigerians.
The former Anambra State governor reminded the public of his long-standing commitment to such causes, noting that even before his political career, and consistently throughout it, he had remained devoted to initiatives for the common good.
“People may recall how, during the Haiti earthquake, I had to seek permission from then President Goodluck Jonathan to travel and offer support,” he said.
Obi further stated that his visit to Benue State would have taken him to a school under construction by the Bishop of Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp, reflecting his enduring commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
The Eagle Online recalls that the Benue State Government had on Monday issued a statement in which it said it could not guarantee the safety of high profile individuals visiting the state.
One of those with Obi on the trip said on social media on Monday: “On our way to Benue State today from Plateau, we were turned back.
“The ADC sent the same press statement directly to PO via WhatsApp.
“So yes, it was all directed at him.
“PO had initially sent his itinerary to them, as a courtesy and they used his entire itinerary to publish a statement.
“I am not surprised that certain elements within our political space would attempt to restrict Peter Obi’s movements but also orchestrating actions that seem intended to harm or permanently silence him.
“Make no mistake, the attacks against Peter Obi are deliberate planned efforts.
“And this is a THREAT not only to HIM but to each and every one of us.
“We could have kept going, the security were all hyped up to go, but in his exact words: ‘I need to guarantee the safety of those with me, look at these policemen, they are all fathers, I won’t permit anyone to engage them, so let’s turn back, nobody will harm any of my people. I won’t lose any one of you, I’d rather turn back than put you in arms way.’
“Even as a private citizen, anyone can enter any State in Nigeria, but for you to say you do not certify his safety in such a manner shows the voice of JACOB but clearly the hands of ESAU.
“But this is a message to you all: The Nigerian youths would not back down, we won’t back down, not NOW, not EVER.
“We are on a moving train to get a new Nigeria, you either join this moving train, or you get tha hell out of our way.”
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