Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has voiced deep disappointment after being barred from visiting internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and healthcare institutions in Benue State.
In a statement released via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, April 14, Obi alleged that the Benue State Government deliberately obstructed his visit, which was part of a broader outreach initiative targeting vulnerable communities across Nigeria. The visit to Benue was scheduled for April 14, following an earlier stop in Plateau State on April 13, where he was warmly received by Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Obi revealed that despite several attempts to reach Governor Hyacinth Alia directly, he was unsuccessful. According to Obi, he eventually got through to the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who claimed the governor was in a meeting and would return his call. That call never came.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get that call until Sunday evening,” Obi said, “when he sent me a message stating he had not been able to reach his principal since the day I called. I was disturbed by how an ADC would not have been able to reach his principal for 3 days.”
Obi disclosed that while he was already en route to Benue, his security team was informed by local authorities that the state could not guarantee the safety of his visit. Still determined to proceed, Obi left Jos at 7 a.m. and was en route through Akwanga by 10 a.m. when his security detail received a press statement, purportedly from the Benue State Government, discouraging the trip.
“Curiously, while I was still talking with my security team on the issue, the governor’s ADC sent the statement directly to me,” Obi added. “The letter referred exactly to my itinerary, which I had earlier conveyed to the ADC and to security operatives in Benue.”
Obi emphasized that his visit was entirely humanitarian, focused on supporting healthcare, education, and welfare services. His planned engagements included a visit to a bishop-led school construction project in Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp.
The former Anambra State governor noted that this was not his first interaction with Benue. During his 2023 presidential campaign, Obi met with then-Governor Samuel Ortom and expressed strong support for the state’s handling of the IDP crisis, calling for national intervention in what he described as an unfair burden for Benue to bear alone.
Referencing his past humanitarian efforts, Obi recalled traveling to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake with permission from then-President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that his mission has always been about the common good.
Benue State has remained a flashpoint for violent clashes, often linked to suspected herdsmen attacks. The latest occurred on February 6, when six people were reportedly killed in the Okpamaju and Asa communities of Otukpo Local Government Area. The Police later confirmed two deaths, attributing the clash to disputes over open grazing.
While Governor Alia’s administration insists progress has been made on security, reports of attacks on farmers and local communities remain frequent.
As of press time, the Benue State Government had not issued a formal response to Obi’s allegations.
