The Benue State Government has dismissed allegations that it plans to disrupt the planned visit of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the state.
The government described the allegation by the party’s governorship candidate, Professor Terhemba Shija, as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, the state government said it was responsible for the safety of all visitors to Benue and regularly took precautionary measures to ensure peaceful movement and engagements.
Iorpev urged the NDC to ensure that its supporters and associates maintained peaceful conduct throughout Obi’s visit.
“This allegation is false, baseless and mischievous. It is speculation dressed up as fact, and it is meant to prepare the ground for a familiar script to stage a disruption, blame the government, and harvest sympathy. This is political content creation, not truth-telling,” the statement said.
The government maintained that Benue remained open to all Nigerians, including politicians seeking the support of residents.
“Benue is a land of hospitality, and every Nigerian is free to move within it, including those who seek our votes. The government has no reason to fear any visitor,” it added.
The statement also said Governor Hyacinth Alia was focused on rebuilding the state, improving security and delivering projects, rather than engaging in political distractions.
The government further cautioned the NDC against using the visit to exploit the grief of victims of the Yelwata tragedy for political purposes.
“We also remind the NDC that the memory of the Yelwata tragedy is sacred to us. We mourn with the families of the victims every day. No one should turn that grief into a political stage, and no one should use a visit meant to console the bereaved as material for a publicity campaign,” the statement added.
It urged residents to disregard what it described as misleading information and continue their lawful activities without fear.
The government also assured residents that security agencies would not allow anyone to disrupt public peace or threaten their livelihoods.
It, however, warned that anyone attempting to cause disorder would face the full weight of the law, regardless of their political affiliation.
“Let no one be left in doubt though, security agencies will deal firmly with any criminal-minded person who attempts to cause disorder and disrupt the peace, whoever they work for,” Iorpev stated.
