The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has accused the Benue State Government of politicising his planned visit to internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps and health institutions in the state.
In a statement shared on Monday via his official X account, Obi expressed disappointment over what he described as deliberate attempts to frustrate his humanitarian trip to Benue, lamenting what he called the growing politicisation of good causes in Nigeria.
DAILY POST had exclusively reported that Alia had moved to block a planned visit by Obi to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Top government officials reportedly advised Governor Alia against granting Obi access to the IDP camps, citing political undertones.
Alia had said he could not guarantee the security of any high-profile figure in the state.
Reacting, however, Obi explained that his visit, scheduled for April 14, was part of a two-state outreach beginning in Plateau State on April 13.
While he said the Plateau State Governor warmly welcomed his intention to visit, he was unable to directly reach Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, despite several attempts.
“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.
“I tried repeatedly to contact the Governor directly without success. I eventually reached his ADC, who told me the Governor was in an important meeting and would get back to me before midnight,”; Obi disclosed.
According to Obi, no feedback came until the evening of Sunday, April 13, when the ADC admitted he had been unable to contact the Governor for three days. Despite this, Obi maintained that he resolved to proceed with his visit to Makurdi on Monday morning, noting that the meeting with the Governor was intended as 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.
“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.
Obi added his history of humanitarian work, stating, “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.”;
“I intended to visit a school being built by the bishop in Gboko, a Nursing school and an IDP camp, actions that reflect my genuine care for the welfare of our fellow citizens, and my continuous show of love, care and compassion to citizens who have been displaced.
“May God help us as we rebuild our nation and aim to achieve a new Nigeria where we do not politicize everything but allow citizens to exist, and we all should live for the common good for less privileged Nigerians and those in need,”; he wrote.
