Tension in Benue as Peter Obi’s Blocked Convoy Leads to Protest

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has alleged that youths led by an unnamed Special Adviser to Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, blocked the road to prevent him from entering the city.

Obi made the allegation while speaking after his convoy was reportedly stopped on his way to condole with families who lost loved ones in a recent bandit attack in the state.

The former Anambra State governor said he was in Benue not for campaign purposes but to sympathise with victims of insecurity and their families.

According to Obi, “the entire road has been blocked”, and he had remained at the location for some time, hoping those involved would reconsider their action.

He said, “I am currently in Benue State to express my condolences to the families who have lost over 200 members to terrorist attacks in recent times.

“However, I have been informed that youths, led by the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor, have blocked the road to prevent me from proceeding. I have been here for a while, hoping they will see the reason.”

Obi said the incident underscored the broader challenges confronting Nigerians, particularly poverty and insecurity.

“We cannot continue like this. There are people who are hungry and insecure. These are the same people we must lift out of poverty by creating opportunities for them to earn a livelihood. That is one of the key purposes of my visit,” he said.

The incident was first made known by Obi’s media aide, Esther Umoh, who shared a video showing the alleged roadblock.

She said the NDC presidential candidate and his team had just arrived from the airport and were heading into town when they discovered that the road had allegedly been blocked to prevent Obi from proceeding.

Meanwhile, political commentator and Businessman Isaac Fayose has criticised the youths who reportedly blocked Obi’s convoy, describing their actions as misplaced.

Fayose questioned why youths would prevent a politician from visiting communities affected by insecurity while failing to confront the perpetrators of attacks on their communities.

“The actual problem we are facing in Nigeria right now is the youths, not even our politicians. They have used poverty to destroy the minds of several youths.

“How can you, as a youth, allow people to kill your family members and continue killing your people, yet you are stopping Peter Obi from entering? You, people, can’t even stop the terrorists who are killing your people,” he said.

Fayose also criticised Governor Alia, urging Benue youths to take a stronger stand against insecurity and resist being used to create divisions among the people.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has yet to say anything concerning the accusation as protests erupt in the State.