In a move that has stirred nationwide controversy, former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi, was on Monday denied access to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State by the state government under Governor Hyacinth Alia. The incident has drawn attention to the growing tension between humanitarian gestures and political power play in Nigeria.
Mr. Obi, who was on a two-state visit to Plateau and Benue, said he had planned to visit IDP camps and nursing schools in both states to show support and compassion to Nigerians facing hardship. While the Plateau State Governor welcomed him warmly, the story in Benue took a different turn.
“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 stated. “But the unfolding events demand that I have to start speaking out now.”
According to Mr. Obi, he made several attempts to reach Governor Alia to inform him of the courtesy visit and humanitarian outreach. When he couldn’t get through, he contacted the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who promised that the governor would call back before midnight. The call never came.
On Monday morning, while en route from Jos to Makurdi, Obi said his security team received a press statement – purportedly from the Benue State Government – instructing him to suspend the visit. The statement contained details of Obi’s itinerary, which he had earlier shared with the ADC and local security in Benue.
“I was shocked. While I was still discussing with my team, the same ADC forwarded the statement directly to me,” Obi lamented.
He further expressed disbelief that the ADC could not reach his principal – the governor – for three consecutive days, raising questions about the transparency and intent behind the sudden stop order.
Obi clarified that his visit was not political but part of his long-standing commitment to supporting displaced and vulnerable Nigerians.
“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. This is what I have done in my private life and even while in politics,” he said.
Observers recall that this is not Obi’s first outreach to IDPs in Benue. In December 2022, he celebrated Christmas with IDPs at the Abagana camp in Makurdi and donated N3 million to support them. Earlier that year, he suspended his campaign to visit flood victims in the state, donating N5 million and calling on the federal government to address recurring disasters.
“Nigerians should not be living in camps in their country,” Obi had said during that visit.
Monday’s development has triggered public discourse on whether political interests are now obstructing humanitarian interventions. Obi, visibly disheartened, offered a sobering reflection:
“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 of less privileged Nigerians and those in need.”
As the Benue State Government remains silent on the issue, many Nigerians are watching to see if governance and empathy can truly be separated from politics – or if acts of goodwill will continue to be viewed through the lens of rivalry and suspicion.
“A new Nigeria is POssible,” Obi added. GMTNewsng
