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By Hope Abah (Makurdi) & Abbas Jimoh (Abuja) A directive issued by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State banning unapproved visits by prominent individuals to the state has drawn widespread backlash from political figures and civil society groups, even as former presidential candidate Peter Obi broke his silence on the matter Monday night. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said that anyone planning a high-profile visit to the state must seek prior clearance from his office. Alia said he was currently engaged in critical, high-level consultations with stakeholders to address the numerous challenges facing Benue and urged that visits likely to attract politically charged gatherings be avoided.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the knowledge or approval of the governor, it is important to reconsider, as their safety and security cannot be assured,” the statement read. Expatriates to pay $15 daily fine, face entry ban for visa overstay – FG InfraCredit secures N27bn MOBILIST investment The statement further directed that individuals or organisations intending to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps must obtain written clearance from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA). Obi says humanitarian mission politicized Though no names were mentioned in the statement, the directive drew immediate criticism from many who believe it was aimed at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was reportedly planning a humanitarian visit to IDP camps in the state.
Reacting Monday evening via his verified X handle, Obi said he would ordinarily have ignored the matter, but the unfolding events compelled him to speak up. The former Anambra State governor said he had planned to visit Plateau and Benue states on April 13 and 14, respectively, to pay courtesy calls on the governors and also visit IDP camps and schools of nursing to offer support. He said he had informed the Plateau State Government and received the governor’s permission, but had been unable to reach Governor Alia despite multiple attempts.
Obi said he eventually contacted the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who assured him the governor would call back. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get that call until Sunday evening when the governor’s ADC sent me a message that he had not been able to reach his principal since the day he called,” Obi wrote. He said he was surprised that an ADC could not reach his principal for three days.
Nonetheless, he decided to proceed with the trip since the proposed visit to Governor Alia was meant merely as a courtesy. Obi said that at about 10 a.m.
on Monday, while in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, his security team informed him of a press statement, purportedly from the Benue State Government, that appeared aimed at stopping his visit. He said the same ADC then forwarded the press statement to him, which referred directly to the itinerary he had previously shared. “I am forced to remind them, and all concerned, that the purpose of this journey is to support good causes in areas of critical development: health and health education, education and caring for our people in need, and this is what I have done in my private life for years before getting into politics and even while in politics I have continued to do so,” Obi said.
I’m not aware of Obi’s planned visit – LP chairman Meanwhile, Ibrahim Idoko, state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and Labour Party chairman in Benue, said he was not informed of Obi’s planned visit and only heard about it from security sources. He acknowledged that the visit was well-intentioned but should have followed official protocol. “As chairman of the party, which Peter Obi contested under, I was not aware he was coming.
If I had known, I would have reached out to the governor or top officials. The governor may have intelligence unknown to us, but Obi must begin to consider safety issues when planning such visits,” he said. Critics say directive unconstitutional A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bemgba Iortyom, described the directive as unconstitutional and a dangerous precedent.
“This purported ban is inconsistent with Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens’ freedom of movement. No citizen requires a governor’s approval to enter any state,” he stated. “This ban likely targets perceived political opponents and reflects a worrying trend of intolerance.
” Chairman of the Benue NGO Network (BENGONET), Laz Mom, said while clearance for accessing IDP camps was understandable, the governor’s broader directive sends the wrong signal. “No Nigerian needs permission to move from one state to another. The claim that the governor cannot guarantee visitors’ safety portrays Benue as a conflict zone,” he said.
Similarly, PDP State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, described the governor’s action as “draconian” and politically motivated. Some political observers, however, say the move may also be connected to the growing rift within the ruling APC in Benue, especially between Governor Alia and allies of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. Unlock AI's potential! Get top prompts for content, blogs, social media, research, draft proposals and more.
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