The Benue State Government has issued what appears to be an indirect caution against a planned visit by former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.
Obi, whose post-election engagements have included visits to conflict-ridden communities and IDP camps across the country, was scheduled to stop in Benue as part of his humanitarian outreach.
The former governor had recently visited IDPs in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Nasarawa, delivering relief materials and calling for urgent government action.
However, his proposed visit to Benue has reportedly encountered resistance from the state government, led by Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Labour Party candidate secured over 308,000 votes in the state in 2023, a development credited to his wide acceptance by various stakeholders and people of the state.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that Obi’s team had formally contacted the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) through its Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, seeking access to the camps.
But the move reportedly triggered political unease within the Government House in Makurdi.
Senior aides and political strategists around Governor Alia are said to have advised against allowing the visit, citing perceived political motives and concerns over the optics of hosting a high-profile opposition figure.
According to an inside source, “There are fears that the visit, coming on the heels of Obi’s interactions with victims in other states and his warm reception by Governor Mutfwang in Plateau, could be interpreted as a political statement—especially in light of Governor Alia’s own tensions within the APC and his delicate relationship with the presidency.”
Some in the governor’s circle reportedly argued that permitting the visit could embolden former Governor Samuel Ortom, a vocal supporter of Obi during the 2023 presidential election, and potentially revive dormant political rivalries.
Recall that earlier, the state government, through Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, issued a public disclaimer, warning against unscheduled visits.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” the statement read.
The release did not mention Obi by name. However, insiders confirm it was a thinly veiled message targeted at the former presidential candidate.
“The governor is not comfortable with Obi’s visit, especially with the political undertones it carries. The camps are a sensitive issue, and we cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people,” a senior government official confided.
