The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has accused the Benue State Government of politicising his planned humanitarian visit to internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and health institutions in the state.
Obi made the allegation in a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, expressing disappointment over what he described as a deliberate attempt to frustrate his outreach mission to Benue.
His reaction followed reports that the Benue State Government had moved to block his scheduled April 14 visit to IDP camps in Makurdi.
According to sources, top government officials advised Governor Hyacinth Alia not to approve Obi’s access to the camps, citing perceived political undertones.
The governor had also claimed he could not guarantee the safety of high-profile individuals in the state at the time.
Obi, however, clarified that the Benue trip was part of a two-state humanitarian tour beginning in Plateau State on April 13, where he said he received a warm welcome from the state government.
“Ordinarily, I would not have commented on this issue, as I have endured far worse situations in my political life since I declared for the presidency,” Obi wrote. “But the unfolding events demand that I begin to speak out.”
He stated that repeated efforts to reach Governor Alia directly were unsuccessful. “I eventually reached his ADC, who told me the Governor was in an important meeting and would get back to me before midnight,” Obi said, adding that no response came until the evening of Sunday, April 13, when the ADC admitted he had been unable to contact the governor for three days.
Despite the lack of communication, Obi said he resolved to go ahead with his visit to Makurdi, noting that his intended meeting with the governor was a courtesy call.
“Curiously, while I was still discussing the issue with my security detail, the Governor’s ADC sent the same statement directly to me,” he said.
Reiterating the non-political nature of his visit, Obi said, “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.
This is what I have done in my private life for years before getting into politics, and even while in politics, I have continued to do so.”
He disclosed that his itinerary in Benue included visits to a school being built by a bishop in Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp—initiatives he described as reflecting his commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
“May God help us as we rebuild our nation and aim to achieve a new Nigeria where we do not politicise everything but allow citizens to exist, and we all should live for the common good of less privileged Nigerians and those in need,” Obi concluded.
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