Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised concerns over an alleged attempt to frustrate his planned visit to Benue State, describing it as a disturbing politicization of a purely humanitarian mission.
Obi, in a statement issued on Monday, said he had scheduled a visits to Plateau and Benue states on April 13 and 14, 2025, respectively, to pay courtesy calls on the governors and extend support to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and health institutions in both states.
While the Plateau State Government welcomed him warmly, allowing him to spend the day with IDPs in Bokkos, Obi said efforts to reach the Benue State Governor proved abortive, despite several attempts through official and back-channel contacts.
“I tried repeatedly to contact the Benue State Governor directly without success. I then reached his ADC, who told me the governor was in a very important meeting and would call me before midnight. That call never came,” he said.
The former Governor of Anambra State added that the ADC later messaged him after some days, claiming he had been unable to reach his principal for three days.
Despite the communication breakdown, Obi said he proceeded with his plans to visit Makurdi, only for his security team to intercept a press release, allegedly from the Benue State Government, discouraging the visit.
According to him, the same document was later forwarded to him by the governor’s ADC.
“The letter referenced my itinerary, which I had shared with the ADC and the state’s security operatives through my team. It appeared clearly aimed at stopping my trip,” Obi said.
He emphasized that the visit was not political but rooted in his ongoing commitment to support critical areas of development, especially health, education, and the welfare of displaced Nigerians.
“I have been involved in humanitarian work long before entering politics and have continued to do so while in politics. I had to seek President Goodluck Jonathan’s permission years ago just to travel to Haiti after the earthquake. That’s how seriously I take such missions,” he said.
Obi noted that he had intended to visit a school project in Gboko, a nursing school, and an IDP camp, all part of his outreach to uplift vulnerable citizens.
He therefore called for unity and a new political culture where good intentions are not viewed through a partisan lens.
“May God help us rebuild a nation where acts of compassion are not politicized. A new Nigeria is POssible,” he said.
