Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of being behind the blockade that stopped Labour Party-turned-NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi from visiting Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Ortom said the incident showed a government that does not respect the rule of law. He described it as wrong to prevent Obi from travelling to Benue to condole with residents whose relatives were killed.
“I condemn what happened yesterday. It is wrong not to allow Peter Obi to visit Benue and sympathise with those people whose people were killed,” Ortom said. “Governor Alia has been doing it.”
He challenged Alia, a Catholic priest, to swear on the Bible that he had no knowledge of the blockade. Ortom also recalled earlier actions he attributed to the governor, including the use of tippers loaded with sand to block the Chief Judge’s office and the removal of the judge.
Ortom stressed he was not speaking as an Obi supporter. “I am not supporting Peter Obi. But it is wrong.”
Former Bayelsa Governor and NDC national leader Seriake Dickson separately called the blockade criminal and said those involved should be investigated and prosecuted.
Appearing on Arise TV’s Newsnight, Dickson said no Nigerian needs permission to visit any state and that stopping a presidential candidate with thugs during the campaign period sent a dangerous signal.
He said the NDC state chairman had written to the Benue Commissioner of Police before the visit and that a formal petition would be sent to the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Dickson also urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene to protect the democratic order.
The article reported that police comments on the incident had already been aired, though Dickson questioned what steps officers took at the scene to prevent the blockade.
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