Peter Obi Explains Cancellation of Benue Visit, Calls It “Unsettling Incident”
Labour Party Presidential Candidate Details Humanitarian Mission Disruption
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has publicly addressed the abrupt cancellation of his planned humanitarian visit to Benue State, labeling the situation as “an unsettling incident.” The former Anambra State governor broke his usual silence on political matters to clarify circumstances surrounding the aborted trip.
Planned Humanitarian Mission
Obi revealed his itinerary included coordinated visits to Plateau and Benue States from April 13-14, focused on supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and advancing health and education initiatives. The planned engagements involved:
- Courtesy calls with state governors
- Visits to IDP camps
- Engagements with educational institutions including nursing schools
Contrasting State Responses
While the Plateau State Governor welcomed Obi and facilitated his IDP camp visit in Bokkos, Benue State presented unexpected challenges. Obi detailed unsuccessful attempts to contact Governor Hyacinth Alia directly, eventually reaching the governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC) who promised a return call that never materialized.
“Days later, the ADC messaged claiming inability to reach the governor – a situation I found deeply troubling,” Obi stated.
Last-Minute Cancellation
Despite communication hurdles, Obi proceeded toward Makurdi, prioritizing humanitarian objectives over protocol. En route at Akwanga, his security team intercepted an official Benue State Government statement canceling his visit. Notably, the statement precisely matched the itinerary previously shared with Benue officials.
“The governor’s ADC simultaneously forwarded the same statement to me directly,” Obi noted, highlighting the unusual timing.
Humanitarian Track Record
The politician emphasized his longstanding commitment to development causes, referencing his 2010 Haiti earthquake relief mission approved by then-President Goodluck Jonathan. Planned Benue engagements included:
- Inspection of a Gboko school construction project
- Visit to a nursing school
- Assessment of IDP camp conditions
Obi concluded with a prayer for national unity: “May God help us rebuild a Nigeria where we prioritize common good over politicization, especially for vulnerable citizens.”
Read more: “Your safety not guaranteed,” Alia tells unscheduled Benue visitors