Peter Obi Blasts Benue State Governor Alia For Blocking His Humanitarian Visit To IDP Camps

Peter Obi Blasts Benue State Governor Alia For Blocking His Humanitarian Visit To IDP Camps

photo credit/>Peter Obi @Facebook/Instagram 

Date: April 15, 2025 | Author: Nakisha Gerald Diary

In a sharp and emotional statement, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called out Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for allegedly blocking his planned visit to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and health institutions in Benue State.

Obi, who shared his frustration via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, revealed that the visit was part of a two-state humanitarian outreach that began in Plateau State on April 13, 2025. While the Plateau State Government reportedly welcomed him with open arms, the Benue State leg of his trip hit an unexpected roadblock.

According to Obi, several efforts to reach Governor Alia directly proved abortive. The Governor's Aide-De-Camp (ADC) finally informed him that the Governor was tied up in "an important meeting" and promised feedback by midnight — a promise that was never fulfilled. The ADC later confessed that he hadn’t been able to reach the Governor for three days.

Despite these hurdles, Obi remained determined, explaining that his planned visit was purely humanitarian. He intended to support various charity initiatives including a bishop-led school project in Gboko, a nursing school, and a local IDP camp, emphasizing his long-standing commitment to humanitarian efforts both before and during his political career.

In his words:

> "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. 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 lamented what he described as the growing culture of politicizing good causes in Nigeria, urging leaders to prioritize the welfare of the less privileged over political differences.

> "May God help us as we rebuild our nation and aim to achieve a new Nigeria where we do not politicize everything but allow citizens to exist, and we all should live for the common good for less privileged Nigerians and those in need," he concluded.

This development has sparked debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether politics should interfere with charitable missions — especially in states struggling with humanitarian crises like Benue.

What’s your take on this? Should charity work be politicized or encouraged regardless of the person behind it? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!