The Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over the disruption of his convoy during a visit to the state on Tuesday.
Iorpev said Obi’s decision to visit Benue without formally notifying the state government was a breach of protocol, particularly given his status as a former governor and prominent political figure.
The commissioner said the state government ordinarily had a responsibility to make adequate security arrangements for a high-profile visitor, but could not effectively provide such protection without prior information about the visit.
He said, “A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government.
“We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety.
“This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people.”
The comments followed an incident in which some youths reportedly stopped Obi’s convoy while he was attempting to access the Yelewata area of the state.
Iorpev said he was not aware of the identities of the youths involved and could not establish who organised the blockade.
He, however, explained that Obi’s visit happened at the same time youths from Benue’s 23 local government areas were converging for a meeting, suggesting that the coincidence may have contributed to the incident.
“So, if they were coming from either Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time of his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,” the commissioner said.
Iorpev maintained that the state government remained committed to peace and hospitality, while stressing that proper communication and security coordination were necessary when prominent individuals visit Benue.