NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Benue
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has alleged that an aide to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia led a group that prevented his convoy from reaching communities affected by recent attacks in the state.
Obi made the allegation during a telephone interview with newsmen on Tuesday, insisting that his trip to Benue was solely to sympathise with families who lost loved ones in the attacks and not for political activities.
According to the former Anambra State governor, he had planned to visit communities where more than 200 people were reportedly killed, but his movement was halted after a crowd blocked the road.
He alleged that the group was led by one of Governor Alia’s Special Advisers, describing those involved as “government-sponsored thugs.”
Videos broadcast by ARISE News showed a crowd, some carrying sticks, blocking Obi’s convoy along the Gboko Road while he attempted to continue his journey into the state.
Maintaining that his visit was humanitarian, Obi said politics should never stand in the way of showing compassion to grieving families.
> “I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives and console them, show solidarity with them. But you can see the level at which our politics has degenerated,” he said.
Obi further alleged that those who obstructed his convoy were acting on behalf of the Benue State Government, adding that it was unacceptable for political interests to deny citizens and leaders the opportunity to interact freely.
He also lamented the country’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship, arguing that Nigerians should not be subjected to political intimidation at a time they are already facing enormous challenges.
The Benue State Government, however, rejected Obi’s claims, insisting it had no hand in the incident.
Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the government was unaware that Obi was in the state and dismissed the allegation that it sponsored anyone to stop his convoy.
> “We are not aware whether he is in the state or not. If the Benue state government is to stop anybody, including Peter Obi, why would the Benue state government go and use thugs? Benue government doesn’t do that. I think it is just one of the lies they are trying to bring upon my principal,” Kula said.
Obi concluded by calling for tolerance in Nigeria’s political space, stressing that political differences should not breed hostility or violence.
> “We have no other country except this place, and we will build it on unity and love with a sense of doing the right thing,” he said.
(With additional report from Arise TV)
