Benue denies plan to disrupt Peter Obi’s visit
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on P.M. News
The Benue State government in Nigeria denies wanting to disrupt the visit of Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, planned for Wednesday. Information Commissioner Solomon Iorpev accuses the party of politicising the Yelewata tragedy. He is responding to a request from the NDC gubernatorial candidate, Terhemba Shija, according to P.M. News.
The Benue State government in Nigeria denies wanting to disrupt the visit of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), planned for Wednesday. In a statement, Information Commissioner Solomon Iorpev calls the accusation "false, baseless and malicious", according to the news agency NAN cited by P.M. News.
The accusation came from the NDC candidate for governor, Terhemba Shija. He had asked the authorities not to disrupt the visit and said that an earlier trip by Obi had been disturbed by thugs close to the state government. Iorpev accuses the NDC of creating a false narrative to win sympathy. He also urges it not to politicise the Yelewata tragedy, a community in Benue that Obi is due to visit on Wednesday.
The commissioner says the government will guarantee the safety of visitors and that security forces will deal firmly with any troublemaker, regardless of political affiliation. He asks the NDC to ensure its supporters remain calm.
The controversy follows the attack on a political convoy in Asaba, which left one dead on 8 November, and Peter Obi’s condemnation of a political attack in Delta.
