Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has spoken out over what he described as a disturbing development during his planned humanitarian visit to Benue State. In a public statement released on Monday, April 14, 2025, Obi accused the Benue State Government of effectively stopping his scheduled engagements in the state, which were centered around helping internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as supporting schools and health-related initiatives.
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, explained that his visit was part of a broader outreach covering both Plateau and Benue States. His aim, he said, was to extend support to IDP communities, promote education and healthcare, and continue his mission of touching lives through humanitarian efforts.
While his trip to Plateau State went smoothly and was warmly received by the state government, his experience with the Benue State Government was quite the opposite.
According to Obi, his visit began in Plateau State on Sunday, April 13. He had earlier reached out to the Plateau State Government, which, he said, welcomed him with open arms. The governor of Plateau, whose name Obi did not mention in his statement, reportedly provided full support for the visit. Obi was able to meet with victims of violence at the Bokkos IDP camp and also interacted with local institutions in the state.
“I was allowed to spend quality time with the IDPs, offering both encouragement and support. It was a fulfilling visit,” Obi said.
However, Obi painted a completely different picture of his planned visit to Benue State, which was scheduled for Monday, April 14.
Obi stated that, as he normally does, he made several efforts to reach out to the Benue State Governor ahead of the trip. But unlike Plateau, his calls were not returned. Eventually, he was able to speak with the governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC), who informed him that the governor was busy in a meeting and would return the call before midnight. That call never came.
Days later, the same ADC reportedly messaged Obi, claiming he had still not been able to reach the governor.
“I found the entire situation very troubling,” Obi said. “But I still decided to go ahead with my visit to Makurdi. After all, visiting the governor was a matter of courtesy, not a condition for my humanitarian work.”
On the morning of April 14, Obi left Jos at about 7 a.m. and began the journey to Makurdi. However, while passing through Akwanga around 10 a.m., his security team intercepted a press statement reportedly issued by the Benue State Government. The statement effectively halted his visit.
To his surprise, the same statement was then forwarded to him by the governor’s ADC — the same aide he had previously spoken with. What shocked Obi even more was that the press release contained detailed information about his itinerary, which had been privately shared with the Benue security officials and the governor’s ADC.
Obi expressed his disappointment, saying that the development was both unexpected and unnecessary, given the purely humanitarian nature of his visit.
Obi used the opportunity to remind Nigerians that his visit was not political. According to him, he has always been involved in charitable and development-related activities — long before entering politics.
“My goal was simple: to visit a bishop’s school project in Gboko, a school of nursing, and an IDP camp. I’ve always believed in giving back to society, especially to those who are vulnerable,” he said.
He also gave an example from 2010, during the devastating earthquake in Haiti, when he had to seek permission from then-President Goodluck Jonathan to personally offer support to victims of the disaster.
“I have always acted out of compassion, not politics,” he stressed.
Obi ended his statement with an appeal to both political leaders and ordinary Nigerians to stop politicising acts of kindness. He called for a united effort in building a country where service to the poor and displaced is not seen through a political lens.
“Let us strive to build a new Nigeria where we do not politicise everything, but instead act for the common good of all Nigerians, especially those in need,” he said.
He prayed for divine help in healing the nation and called on leaders to lead with empathy and a sense of purpose.
Benue State has been one of the hardest-hit regions in Nigeria due to persistent herder-farmer clashes and other forms of communal violence. These conflicts have displaced thousands of people over the years, leaving many to rely on IDP camps for shelter and basic survival.
Over the past decade, humanitarian workers and political leaders have often visited these camps to show support and offer relief materials. While such visits are usually welcomed regardless of political affiliation, the incident involving Obi’s cancelled visit has sparked fresh conversations about the politicisation of humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.
Although the Benue State Government has yet to publicly explain its reason for cancelling Obi’s visit, the press statement referenced by Obi suggests that the administration may have had reservations about the nature or timing of the visit.
As reactions continue to trail the development, many Nigerians on social media and beyond have called for more transparency, respect, and cooperation among public officials — especially when it concerns the well-being of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
For now, Obi has said he holds no grudges and remains committed to reaching those in need, wherever they may be.
