The Benue State Government has denied being aware of Peter Obi’s reported visit to Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area, after reports claimed his convoy was blocked by youths.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, told Vanguard on Tuesday that neither the governor nor the state government knew about the visit.
He said security agencies should have been informed so proper protection could be provided.
“Peter Obi is a presidential candidate of a political party and a former two-term governor. He is not a small man in this country. He is supposed to be prepared for and given adequate security.
“If you are visiting a state, the security apparatus of the state is supposed to know. The Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, Civil Defence and others are supposed to be aware so that they can provide adequate security for you.”
Tersoo said Alia would not send youths to block Obi, stressing that the governor “does not promote thuggery in Benue State.”
He added that no security agency briefed the governor about the visit.
“But the governor is not aware. So you will even doubt if he came to this state at all,” he said.
Tersoo recalled Obi’s earlier claim that he was stopped from visiting Benue and said security reports were sought over the allegation.
“If those people are aware, they are supposed to make adequate security for him such that the youths cannot even stop him. For the youths to have stopped him, it means there was no adequate security, that is, if at all he came. There is something wrong somewhere,” he said.
