The Benue State Government has dismissed claims by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that he was stopped by government-backed thugs from visiting Yelwata to meet victims of last year’s attacks.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, said in a statement on Tuesday that the state was not aware of any such incident. He also doubted that Obi was in Makurdi, the state capital, on the day he claimed.
According to Kula, Obi has a pattern of making claims against Benue that cannot be proven. He said the governor does not see Obi as a threat. And even if he did, the response would come from trained security agencies, not thugs.
Kula described Governor Alia as a calm man and a former priest whose administration has never relied on violence to govern. He said the government operates strictly within the law.
The Chief Press Secretary also questioned why a presidential candidate would visit the state without informing police and other security agencies. He explained that such visits are usually coordinated ahead of time to ensure proper protection.
Kula further suggested that Obi’s complaint may be coming from unresolved issues within his own party in Benue. He urged the Labour Party to resolve its internal matters instead of blaming the state government.
He said the Alia administration will not be drawn into what he called a “manufactured controversy.” The focus of the government, he added, remains on security, governance, and improving the lives of Benue people.
The state government called on Nigerians to disregard the allegations. It reaffirmed that Benue remains open to all political figures and visitors who come with peaceful intentions.