Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has voiced deep concern over what appears to be a deliberate move by the Benue State Government to block his planned humanitarian visit to Makurdi on Monday, April 14, 2025.

The Benue State Government on Monday issued a surprise statement, warning against any high-profile visits to the state without prior approval, effectively halting the planned humanitarian trip of Obi.

The visit, which was to include courtesy calls, stops at a nursing school in Gboko, and IDP camps, was abruptly halted after a press statement, purportedly from the Benue State Government was issued while Obi was en route from Plateau State.

Obi, while writing on his X handle on Monday, said despite repeated efforts to contact Governor Hyacinth Alia, including through his Aide-De-Camp (ADC), he received no confirmation or acknowledgment from the state until Sunday evening.

“The ADC had assured me that the governor would call me back. That never happened. Then, while on the road Monday morning, I was handed a statement supposedly from the government, effectively stopping my visit,” Obi explained.

The press release included exact details of Obi’s itinerary, which he had only shared with the ADC and security agencies, a move he says points to internal coordination against his visit.

“I respect the governor as a Reverend Father, and I would not normally make this public. But this pattern of obstruction is worrying,” he said.

Obi, who had just concluded a similar visit to Bokkos in Plateau State, where he donated N7.5 million and met with displaced children—stressed that his mission was entirely humanitarian, not political.

“This is not about politics. I have always visited communities in need—before, during, and after campaigns. I don’t need a political reason to help displaced Nigerians,” he said.

Obi’s sudden halt in Akwanga has sparked a wave of mixed reactions, with many questioning why a visit centered on compassion and aid would be politicised.

In a notice signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, the government declared that Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia was not expecting any “August visitor” and is currently involved in high-level meetings addressing pressing state matters.

Kula warned that “any group or high-profile individual(s)” seeking to enter the state for visits that may attract public or political gatherings must reconsider, adding that the safety of such visitors cannot be guaranteed.

This announcement came just hours after Obi revealed that his security detail intercepted the government’s press release while he was en route from Jos to Makurdi for a scheduled visit to an IDP camp and a nursing school in Gboko.

Obi also stated that he had tried to reach the Governor and had informed his aides and the state security services about his itinerary.

According to the Benue State Government, all visits to IDP camps in the state require written permission from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), a policy that appeared to have been activated abruptly in Obi’s case.

The Governor’s office called on security operatives and the public to enforce the advisory, urging everyone to help maintain peace and order across the state.

The sudden restriction has triggered mixed reactions with critics, saying it sends the wrong message amid a national crisis of displacement and insecurity, while supporters argue it reinforces the need for coordinated and depoliticized engagement with sensitive communities.

Obi has since returned to Abuja, expressing disappointment but reiterating his commitment to humanitarian service and the vision of a new Nigeria.