Real reason I blocked Peter Obi’s visit to Benue IDP camp

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has offered an explanation for preventing former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from visiting an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the state.

Governor Alia, in an interview with TVC on Thursday, said Mr Obi did not follow proper procedures ahead of his proposed visit, and that his intentions were unclear.

“A very respected Peter Obi was a governor. If you are coming into someone’s state, there are protocols. Very high personality; you are coming into someone’s state, and your party does not even know you are coming,” Mr Alia said.

“I, the sitting governor, did not know you were coming. Then you are going into where I’m protecting even the most, the IDP camp. It’s my duty to protect them. They’ve been displaced. I need to protect them even some more. I don’t know the intent you have.”

Governor Alia emphasized the importance of informing the state government in advance to ensure security arrangements and proper reception are made for such visits.

“Is it not courteous enough for me to know as a sitting governor and even to provide more security to you and prepare the minds of the IDPs that a guest is coming to visit them?” he added.

Dismissing reports that he was unavailable when Mr Obi attempted to reach him, Alia said: “No, that’s not the right narrative. I can never politicise that. I’m the one bearing the brunt, pain and sorrows of the IDPs in my state,” Mr Alia stated. “No. That’s not the true story. If he (Mr Obi) couldn’t reach me, I have a chief of staff, I have an SSG, (and) I have a PPS. That’s not true.”

The governor had earlier stated that individuals or groups entering the state without official notification or clearance could not be guaranteed security, leading to the decision to block Mr Obi’s visit.

Mr Obi, for his part, expressed disappointment with the handling of the matter, accusing the Benue State government of politicising what he described as a humanitarian mission.