NDC alleges plot to disrupt Obi’s visit to Benue
- … govt’ dismisses allegation
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, on Tuesday accused the state government of allegedly plotting to disrupt the planned visit of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to Yelwata community in in Guma Local Government Area.
Shija, who raised the alarm at a press conference in Makurdi on Tuesday ahead of Obi’s visit scheduled for Wednesday, called on security agencies, particularly the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to guarantee the safety of the presidential candidate and his supporters.
He alleged that the state government was unhappy with Obi’s planned visit and had threatened to prevent him from visiting Yelewata, where he is expected to pay tribute to victims of the last year’s deadly attack that claimed about 271 lives and commiserate with their families.
But, in a swift reaction, the Benue state government dismissed the allegations saying it is not planning to disrupt the visit of Obi, insisting that it has no objection to his presence in the state.
The government, speaking through the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, however, accused Obi of allegedly seeking to create controversy around his visit, claiming that the former Anambra State governor was deliberately generating negative publicity to portray the state government in a bad light.
Earlier, Shija said arrangements had been concluded for Obi’s visit, which would combine humanitarian and political engagements, explaining that the former Anambra State governor would lay a wreath at the cenotaph of the victims along Lafia road in Yelewata before proceeding to Makurdi for a town hall meeting.
Shija clarified that Obi would not visit any government facility or IDP camp but would interact with a cross-section of residents at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Mission House, behind the Benue Links head office, Wurukum, Makurdi.
The NDC governorship candidate urged traditional rulers, civil society organisations, students, women, youths, labour unions and other residents to turn out to receive Obi, whom he described as “the man who would soon be President.”
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, confirmed that Obi had written to inform the police about his visit to the state.
The PPRO said adequate security arrangements were being made to guarantee the safety of the NDC presidential candidate visit to the state.
