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Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the 2023 election of Labor, expressed dissatisfaction with handling the visit to Benue State.
In a statement shared by X on Monday, Obi expressed disappointment at the Benue state government’s response to his scheduled courtesy call and planned visits and plans to visit the state’s internally displaced persons (IDPS) camps and health agencies.
His statement read: “Usually, I don’t comment on this issue because I have endured worse in my political life since I announced my presidency and it has been worsening as I try to do things in a civilized and organized way. Continuous events require me to start speaking out now.
“About what happened today (April 14) in my planned visit to Benue State today, I am not sure about the governor, my dear brother, the pastor father, whom I respect very much, and realizes this. After exhausting all possible means to reach him, I was forced to use this available platform to ensure that my message was conveyed.
“On Thursday, April 10, I plan to visit the Plateau and Benue State respectively. The Plateau is on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Benue and Monday, April 14, 2025. My trips include paying appeals to the governor, as well as visits to the IDP camp and IDP boot camp and nursing in both states to provide my support.
“According to my practice, I contacted the Plateau State government to inform them of my visit, which included spending a day with the victims at the IDP camp in Bokos, and I embraced my visit with all my heart to provide support, care and compassion to Nigerians in need. In his largest hospital, the Plateau State governor forgives in his largest hospital.
Again, I tried to contact the governor of Benu State directly without success. I then successfully contacted his ADC and he told me that the governor had attended a very important meeting and would call me before midnight the same day.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get the call until Sunday night when he sent me a message saying he was unable to contact his principal since I called.
“However, since my visit to the governor was only for politeness and respect, I decided to continue to go to Makurdi.
“Earlier this morning, I left Jos and arrived in Akwanga around 10 a.m., my security team stopped and said they had received a press statement allegedly from the Benue State Government, which seemed to be to stop my travels. While I was still talking to my security team about this issue, the Governor ADC sent me a statement directly.
“This letter refers entirely to the itinerary I had previously communicated it directly to the ADC and to the security agents of Benue through my own security department.
“I was forced to remind them that the purpose of all is to support good causes in the field of critical development: health and wellness education, education, education and caring for the people we need, which is what I do in my private life before going into politics, and even politically, I continue to do so.
“At that time everyone knew how I had to get permission from then-President Goodluck Jonathan, President, and I needed to visit Haiti during the earthquake.
“I plan to visit a school built by the bishop of Gboko, a nursing school and an IDP camp, which reflects my true concern for the welfare of my fellow countrymen and the constant expression of my love, care and compassion for the displaced.
“May God help us as we rebuild our country and aim to achieve the new Nigeria, and instead of politicizing everything, we allow citizens to exist, we should all live for the common good to enjoy less privileged Nigerians and those in need.
“New Nigeria is possible.-po”
