Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, has expressed his displeasure at how the Benue government allegedly politicised his planned visit to the troubled state.

This came after Mr Obi scheduled a courtesy call to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and some health institutions in Benue amid the escalating security challenges in the state. However, the visit was rebuked by the Benue government.

Earlier, in a statement, Governor Hyacinth Alia said he could not guarantee the safety of any individual or group visiting Benue without his knowledge or clearance.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Tersoo Kula, Mr Alia also warned against visits that could result in political gatherings without prior approval, urging security agencies and the public to take note and maintain peace and order.

But reacting in a statement via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Mr Obi said he was surprised that his planned visit to Benue was misunderstood and allegedly blocked by Mr Alia.

He said that while a similar visit was planned for Plateau State, where he was warmly received, he was surprised that he could not secure a visit to Benue.

 “As is my practice, I reached out to the Plateau State government to inform them of my visit, which included spending the day with the victims at the IDP camp in Bokkos, a visit I wholeheartedly embraced to extend my support, care, and compassion to fellow Nigerians in need. And in his utmost hospitality, the Plateau State Governor graciously permitted.

“In a similar vein, I tried repeatedly to contact the Benue State Governor directly without success. I then successfully contacted his ADC who told me that the governor was in a very important meeting and would call me before midnight on the same day.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get that call until Sunday evening 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,” he wrote.

Mr Obi maintained that his visit to the Benue governor was meant to be a courtesy call, stressing that he decided to proceed with his trip to Makurdi since he was not welcomed by Mr Alia and then continued on to Jos.

He added that while on the way, his security aides received a statement from the Benue government through the Aide-de-Camp (ADC), which was allegedly designed to stop his trip.

 “The letter refers exactly to my itinerary, which I had earlier conveyed to the ADC directly and to the security operatives in Benue through my own security.

 “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,” he said.

 “Everyone knew then how I had to get permission from the then President, President Goodluck Jonathan, that I needed to visit Haiti during the earthquake.”

He explained that, “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.”