Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has cancelled his planned visit to Benue State following a security advisory issued by the state government. The visit, which was intended for humanitarian outreach, was scheduled to take place on Monday, with stops at internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and health facilities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obi expressed disappointment over what he described as political interference in charitable efforts, noting that his planned tour, which began in Plateau State, was purely humanitarian. He stated that the warning issued by Benue authorities highlights a growing trend of politicising goodwill initiatives in Nigeria.

In a public statement titled “Notice regarding an unscheduled visit to Benue State,” Governor Hyacinth Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, stressed that the state government had not been informed of Obi’s arrival and could not guarantee his safety. The statement further stipulated that any visit to IDP camps must receive prior written approval from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency. Unauthorized visits, it warned, could be mistaken for political gatherings.

Reacting via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi said he had made repeated efforts to reach Governor Alia and his aides to confirm his visit but received no response. He revealed that while on his way to Makurdi, a press statement was released, cautioning against his presence in the state. According to him, the itinerary mentioned in the government’s statement had only been shared with the governor’s ADC and local security agents.

Obi emphasized that his sole intention was to offer support to education and healthcare institutions, and to visit displaced citizens, stressing that the trip had no political undertone. He noted his track record of humanitarian service both within and outside Nigeria, including during the Haiti earthquake crisis.

“My plan included visiting a school under construction in Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp. These actions were aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians, not political campaigning,” Obi clarified.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to embrace a collective mission of rebuilding the nation without politicizing humanitarian interventions.

Benue Monarchs Warn Against Land Concessions

In a separate development, traditional rulers in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State have cautioned against any attempts to negotiate land concessions with herders. At a special council meeting chaired by Chief Daniel Abomtse, the monarchs issued a communique rejecting any form of land deals or coexistence agreements with external groups, especially herders.

They called on youths to actively defend their communities and reject unauthorized land negotiations, warning that any individual found making such arrangements would be handed over to security agencies.

The meeting followed a series of violent attacks in the area, which led to the destruction of public infrastructure, including the palace and local government secretariat. The council condemned the persistent violence by suspected armed herders and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to protect the people.

The monarchs also appealed to youths to apologize for the recent attack on the Ter Tyoshin’s palace and reaffirmed their commitment to restoring peace and order in the region.