Peter Obi has said Governor Hyacinth Alia’s public statement in which he claimed Benue is unsafe for visiting prominent individuals is aimed at preventing him from helping those Internally Displaced Persons in the state.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the knowledge or approval of the governor, it is important to reconsider, as their safety and security cannot be assured,” the governor had said in a statement his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, released.
The communication further directed that individuals or organisations intending to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps must obtain written clearance from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).
Obi took to his X handle on Monday to say that he was the target of Alia’s directive.
The Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023 said it was all in a bid to prevent him from being in the state to support those in IDP camps.
The former Anambra State governor said he had planned to visit Plateau and Benue states on April 13 and 14, respectively, to pay courtesy calls on the governors and also visit IDP camps and schools of nursing to offer support.
To that end, he reportedly informed the Plateau State Government and received the governor’s permission, but had been unable to reach Governor Alia despite multiple attempts.
Obi said, he was able to contact the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who assured him of the governor calling him back.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get that call until Sunday evening when the governor’s ADC sent me a message that he had not been able to reach his principal since the day he called,” Obi wrote.
He said he was surprised that an ADC could not reach his principal for three days. Nonetheless, he decided to proceed with the trip since the proposed visit to Governor Alia was meant merely as a courtesy.
Obi said that at about 10 a.m. on Monday, while in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, his security team informed him of a press statement, purportedly from the Benue State Government, that appeared aimed at stopping his visit. He said the same ADC then forwarded the press statement to him, which referred directly to the itinerary he had previously shared.
“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, and 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,” Obi stated.
