Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the obstruction of his planned humanitarian mission to Benue State, calling for a Nigeria where compassion is not politicized.

In a statement released via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, April 14, 2025, Obi detailed how his scheduled visit to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, nursing schools, and hospitals in Benue State was unexpectedly hindered.

“Ordinarily, I would not respond to this issue,” Obi stated, “as I have faced even greater challenges since declaring my presidential ambition. However, the recurring nature of these incidents compels me to speak out.”

According to Obi, his itinerary included a visit to Plateau State on Sunday, April 13, and Benue State on Monday, April 14. While the Plateau State Governor welcomed him warmly and facilitated his visit to Bokkos IDP camp, Obi said he was unable to establish direct contact with the Benue State Governor despite multiple attempts.

“I reached out to his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), who promised a callback that never came. Strangely, after days of silence, I received a message on Sunday evening stating the governor was still unavailable,” Obi recounted.

Undeterred, Obi proceeded with his journey, only to be halted midway by his security team who had received a press statement allegedly issued by the Benue State Government discouraging his visit.

“To my surprise, the governor’s ADC sent the same statement to me—word for word matching the itinerary I had earlier shared with him,” Obi revealed.

He emphasized that his visits were purely humanitarian, aimed at supporting sectors such as health, education, and welfare for displaced persons—areas he has consistently supported long before entering politics.

“I had planned to support a nursing school in Gboko, an IDP camp, and a church-run school project. These are efforts to bring hope and assistance to fellow Nigerians in distress,” Obi said.

Concluding his statement, he appealed for national unity and compassion, stressing the importance of putting people above politics.

“May God guide us as we strive to build a new Nigeria—one that prioritizes the welfare of its citizens over politics. A New Nigeria is POssible,” he wrote.