The Benue State Government has explained the circumstances surrounding the disruption of Peter Obi’s movement in the state, saying his failure to officially notify the government of his visit affected the state’s ability to make adequate security arrangements for him.
The State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, gave the explanation while reacting to the reported blockage of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress by some youths on Tuesday.
Iorpev said Obi, as a former governor and a high-profile personality, was expected to formally inform the state government before visiting, stressing that such notification was necessary to enable the authorities to provide adequate protection.
According to him, the state government had a responsibility to ensure the safety of prominent visitors, but could not effectively do so when it was unaware of their movements within the state.
“A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government,” the commissioner said.
He added, “We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety.”
The commissioner further claimed that Obi had previously visited the state without following the same protocol, describing the development as unnecessary and potentially capable of creating tension between the former governor and the state authorities.
“This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people,” Iorpev said.
However, the commissioner distanced the state government from the youths who allegedly blocked Obi’s movement, saying he had no knowledge of their identity or whether they acted on behalf of any political group.
He said the incident might have been linked to a separate gathering of youths from the 23 local government areas of the state, which coincided with Obi’s visit.
Iorpev explained that youths travelling from different parts of the state could have converged on the area at the same time as Obi’s movement, resulting in the road blockage.
“So, if they were coming from either Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time of his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,” he said.
The commissioner maintained that Benue remained a peaceful and hospitable state, insisting that the government had no reason to deliberately obstruct the movement or activities of a visiting political figure.
He nevertheless reiterated that high-profile visitors were expected to observe established protocols, particularly where their security was concerned, saying prior communication with the state government would enable the appropriate authorities to make necessary arrangements.
