The Principal Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on National Programs, Civil Society, Voter Education, and Strategic Interventions, Solomon Semaka, has accused the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, of attempting to use Benue State as a platform for political relevance.
In a statement issued on Monday, Semaka described Obi’s planned visit to internally displaced persons, IDP, camps in Benue as “political charity,” alleging that the former Anambra State governor was disguising political maneuvers as humanitarian concern.
The governor’s aide further claimed that Obi had a history of “emotional blackmail and mind games” targeted at exploiting the plight of vulnerable Nigerians for personal political survival. According to him, the Labour Party flagbearer was trying to raise his profile ahead of possible political realignments by leveraging humanitarian visits to states like Benue.
He said, “Mr Peter Obi cannot ambush Benue State with charity. Even the United Nations does not operate this kind of charity model. What he planned to do was nothing short of a political maneuver disguised as humanitarian work, and the people of Benue are wiser now.”
Semaka’s comments come against the backdrop of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s earlier directive banning unauthorized visits to the state by high-profile individuals, citing security concerns.
The order, the governor said, was aimed at managing movements and preventing activities that could jeopardize the fragile security situation in the state.
Recall that Obi had recently lamented his inability to reach Governor Alia ahead of his planned visit to IDP camps in Benue, a development which the governor’s aide dismissed as “bad charity etiquette” and a deliberate attempt to force his way into the state without proper engagement.
Semaka reiterated the administration’s commitment to its partnership with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and noted that Governor Alia would not allow political distractions to derail ongoing governance efforts in the state.
“Benue State is currently in the hands of a bold, courageous, and fearless leader who will not succumb to cheap political antics,” the statement added
