The Benue State Government has denied being informed of the reported visit of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
The denial followed reports that Obi’s convoy was allegedly prevented by youths from gaining access to the community, where over 200 people were reportedly killed in a recent attack.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, said neither the governor nor the state government was aware of the former Anambra State governor’s reported movement.
Tersoo, who spoke in a telephone interview, said the visit of a presidential candidate should ordinarily be communicated to relevant security agencies to ensure adequate protection.
He said, “Peter Obi is a presidential candidate and a former two-term governor. He is not a small man in this country. He is supposed to be prepared for and given adequate security.”
The governor’s spokesman also dismissed claims that Alia could have mobilised youths to frustrate Obi’s movement, insisting that the governor did not encourage thuggery.
According to him, if Obi’s visit posed any security concern, the appropriate response would have been for security agencies to handle the situation rather than youths being used to block his convoy.
Tersoo added that no security agency had briefed the governor about the reported visit, questioning how the alleged blockade could have occurred despite the level of protection expected for a presidential candidate.