How Gov. Alia Aborted My Visit To Benue Nursing School, IDPs…Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election has revealed how Gov. Hycinth Alia of Benue State stopped him from visiting and supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State.
Obi who made the revelation on Monday said apart from not taking his repeated calls, the governor, a Catholic priest and member of the All Progressives Congress sent him a Statement, directing him to stop the visit directly.
Obi said expressed concern about what he described as an unsettling incident, stating that ordinarily, he would have refrained from commenting, having endured far more challenging situations in his political journey.
Obi said he had scheduled visits to Plateau and Benue States as part of his ongoing outreach efforts, aimed at supporting IDPs and promoting health and education initiatives.
According to him, the visits, planned for Sunday April 13 in Plateau, and Monday April 14 in Benue, were to include courtesy calls on the state governors, visits to IDP camps, and interactions with institutions such as schools of nursing.
“As is customary to me, I had reached out to the Plateau State Government to notify him of my intended visit, Plateau State Governor graciously welcomed him, provided all necessary support and allowed me to spend meaningful time with the victims at the Bokkos IDP camp.
“However, despite my efforts to reach the Benue State governor, I was unable to establish direct contact after several attempts.
“I eventually succeeded in speaking with the governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC), who informed him that the governor was engaged in an important meeting but promised to return his call before midnight.
“This promised call never came and days later, the ADC messaged me, claiming he had been unable to reach the governor, this to me a situation deeply troubling,” he said.
Obi said he decided to proceed with his trip to Makurdi as his visit to the governor was a matter of courtesy rather than necessity.
He said he left Jos at 7am on the day of the planned visit but upon reaching Akwanga at about 10am, his security team intercepted a press statement, reportedly issued by the Benue State Government effectively halting his visit.
“While he was still discussing the matter with my team, the governor’s ADC forwarded the same statement to me directly.
“The statement outlined precisely the itinerary I had earlier shared with both the ADC and security operatives in Benue through my own security team.
“My visit was driven purely by humanitarian motives, aimed at supporting critical areas of development, including health care, education, and the welfare of displaced Nigerians.
“For the records, U have long-standing commitment to such causes, noting that even before his political career, and consistently throughout it, he had remained devoted to initiatives for the common good.
“People may recall how, during the Haiti earthquake, I had to seek permission from then President Goodluck Jonathan to travel and offer support,” he said.
Obi said his intended engagements in Benue included a visit to a school under construction by the bishop in Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp which deflected his enduring commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
Obi appealed for a depoliticised approach to national issues, urging leaders and citizens alike to prioritise the welfare of the less privileged.
“May God help us as we rebuild our nation and strive for a new Nigeria, where we do not politicise everything, but instead live and act for the common good of all Nigerians, especially those in need,” he said.
