“Obi Lied; I Blocked Him for Lack of Courtesy” – Governor Alia Defends IDP Camp Visit Rejection

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has defended his decision to block Labour Party leader Peter Obi from visiting an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in the state, saying the former Anambra governor showed a lack of courtesy by failing to inform the state government ahead of the visit.

In an interview with TVC on Thursday, Governor Alia said Mr Obi violated standard protocols by arriving in Benue without prior notice to either him or any member of his administration. According to him, the decision to deny Obi access to the IDP camp was based on both security concerns and protocol breaches.

“Obi lied; I blocked him for lack of courtesy,” Mr Alia stated. “A very respected Peter Obi was a governor. If you are coming into someone’s state, there are protocols. Very high personality; you are coming into someone’s state, and your party does not even know you are coming. I, the sitting governor, did not know you were coming.”

The governor added that the IDP camps remain under high-level protection due to the vulnerability of the displaced persons, and he could not allow an unannounced visit by any individual, regardless of status. “You are going into where I’m protecting even the most—the IDP camp. It’s my duty to protect them. They’ve been displaced. I need to protect them even some more. I don’t know the intent you have.”

Mr Alia also pushed back on Obi’s claim that he had tried but failed to reach the governor before the visit. “That’s not the true story. If he couldn’t reach me, I have a chief of staff, I have an SSG, I have a PPS. That’s not true,” he said. “I can never politicise that. I’m the one bearing the brunt, pain, and sorrows of the IDPs in my state.”

Last week, Governor Alia said he could not guarantee the safety of any individual or group visiting Benue without the knowledge and clearance of the state government. In response, Peter Obi criticised the move, alleging that the state government was politicising what he described as a humanitarian effort.