Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the way the Benue State Government handled his planned humanitarian visit, saying the situation reflects how even acts of kindness are becoming politicised in Nigeria.
Obi, who shared his thoughts on the matter via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, said he was disheartened by the cold reception and resistance he faced when trying to pay courtesy visits to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and health institutions in Benue.
He noted that his trip, scheduled for April 14, was part of a wider visit covering Plateau and Benue states. While he was warmly received in Plateau on April 13, things took a different turn when he attempted to communicate with Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
“I tried repeatedly to contact the Benue State Governor directly without success,” Obi said, explaining that he later reached the governor’s ADC, who assured him the governor would return his call before midnight. That never happened.
Instead, Obi said he received a press release on the morning of his trip to Makurdi, which suggested that the Benue government was not in support of his visit. To his surprise, the same ADC who earlier promised to connect him to the governor sent him the official statement.
The statement reportedly carried detailed information about Obi’s planned itinerary, which he had shared earlier with the Benue security team and the governor’s aides. Obi maintained that his visit was entirely for humanitarian reasons, and not politically motivated in any way.
“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 wrote.
Obi also noted that humanitarian service has always been part of his life, long before his political journey began, and that he had done similar outreach in and outside Nigeria, including efforts following the Haiti earthquake.
He said his trip to Benue included plans to visit a school 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,” he said.
Governor Alia’s administration responded with a statement titled “Notice Regarding Unscheduled Visit to Benue State,” where the government denied having prior knowledge of the trip. The statement, issued by Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, warned that visits to IDP camps require written approval from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” it said.
