Photo Credit: Photo as used in original publication by The Sun Nigeria / Arise TV (screenshot from The Morning Show appearance).
Benue Govt Challenges Obi to Name Aide Who Blocked Convoy to Yelewata
The Benue State Government has asked former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to name the aide who allegedly blocked his convoy from accessing Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area.

The challenge was issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, who also called for evidence to support the allegation.

Kula, who spoke on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, said the state government was unaware of the incident until photos of the alleged obstruction surfaced online.

According to him, the governor was unfairly accused of ordering the blockade.

“The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening. But before you say Jack, they addressed the press and accused the governor of blocking his way. Now, the governor has become an accused person,” Kula said.

“I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him. If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book.”

The controversy comes after reports that Obi’s convoy was prevented from visiting Yelewata, where over 200 people were reportedly killed in a deadly attack in June. The incident sparked political tension, with allegations that persons linked to the state government were behind it.

Kula dismissed claims that the state government was comfortable with the insecurity in Benue, noting that the situation was not peculiar to the state but that government was working to restore peace.

“What is happening in Benue State is somehow difficult to understand… It’s not peculiar to Benue. But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable,” he added.

He said the state is currently experiencing relative peace as the government continues efforts to reduce insecurity to the barest minimum.
Source: The Sun Nigeria –