How Hired Thugs Obstructed My Visit to Benue State
Yesterday, I attended the opening of the national campaign office of an opposition presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde in Abuja. My presence was intended to demonstrate that politics can and should be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and civility. As Governor of Anambra State, I made it a point during electioneering to welcome visiting opposition members personally, provided they acted within the ambits of the law.
Guided by that same commitment to decency over partisanship, I travelled to Benue this morning, arriving at approximately 9:00 a.m. on a purely humanitarian mission: to visit the grieving families affected by the horrific killings in Yelwata, where over 270 people were massacred.
Regrettably, our convoy was prevented from proceeding to the community by thugs chanting, “Peter Obi, go back.” It was deeply distressing to witness such hostility. I came to Benue not for partisan politics, but to mourn with our people, to listen to families who have lost loved ones, and to offer comfort at a moment of unimaginable sorrow. That a mission intended purely to show solidarity, compassion, and support could be obstructed in this manner is deeply alarming.
At a time when our nation should be united in grief and resolute in preventing further bloodshed, we must reject any action capable of deepening our divisions. The people of Benue - and all Nigerians - deserve to sleep without fear. They deserve to travel without fear. They deserve to cultivate their land without fear. Above all, they deserve a country where the state places the protection of human life far above political expediency.
Although we were unable to reach the community today, our thoughts and prayers remain steadfastly with the victims, their families, and the entire Yelwata community. We shall continue to work until the primary responsibility of government - the safeguarding of every Nigerian life - is restored. Until then, we cannot truly say we have built the nation our people deserve.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Imagine their family don't know they had 4bn or even 100m , the bank will enjoy the money and declare profit annually and the man's family will start begging strangers for money 💰.
@Kanrabbai Thank God people are beginning to see it for ehat it actually is.. pure iberibe. Then tomorrow when they die, their family will send 100million on their burial ceremony, the same 100 million wey they no fit bring out take soften their life. Ndi ala
@KingiN_Eze@Kanrabbai Imagine their family don't know they had 4bn or even 100m , the bank will enjoy the money and declare profit annually and the man's family will start begging strangers for money 💰.
PRESIDENT TINUBU GOES ON HOLIDAY AGAIN
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again left Nigeria for another holiday, this time beginning a three-week vacation in Europe.
Nigeria is in deep crisis. Nigerians can barely afford food and transportation. Insecurity is ravaging communities, and thousands of children are unable to access education because of insecurity.
Just days ago, about 600 Nigerians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were reportedly abducted during Juma’at prayers in Niger State.
Yet, at this critical moment, the President has left the country for another holiday.
According to reports, government expenditure on presidential trips and related travel expenses between June 2023 and April 2026 amounted to about ₦37.64 billion, with the President spending approximately 261 days outside Nigeria.
Meanwhile, only ₦36 million was reportedly released to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025, despite a capital allocation of ₦218 billion, in a country of over 230 million people.
This is the calamity befalling our country today.
A government that can spend tens of billions on presidential travel while critical sectors remain starved of funds, and Nigerians are asked to endure worsening hardship, must not be allowed to continue.
Leadership is about priorities.
When citizens cannot feed their families, move safely, access healthcare, send their children to school, or sleep peacefully in their homes, the President should be more concerned about fixing the country than repeatedly leaving it.
I look forward to a Nigeria where our President can vacation in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Cross River State, Bauchi, Ebonyi, and many other destinations across our country.
The President of Nigeria should be the chief marketer of Nigeria as a tourism destination, as other comparable countries do.
Imagine the economic possibilities if our leaders, celebrities, business communities, and citizens travelled within Nigeria more frequently.
Tourism creates jobs. It supports hospitality, transportation, agriculture, entertainment, crafts, and small businesses. It brings investment and foreign exchange and allows communities to benefit directly from their natural and cultural assets.
We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our pleasures while our own enormous potential remains neglected.
We deserve leadership that puts Nigeria first; leadership that cares and plans for a better Nigeria. That is the kind of leadership that the partnership between H.E. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and me will bring.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@Dannyrockie@ThaBoyYom The plans are unchangeable for a reason, and God almighty made it so, why do you think something like dark forces can change an unchangeable plan of God almighty?, Maybe you don't really grasp the bone of contention here.
@obajitex Exactly they import it and they still don't produce original products , they produce inferior ones that are cheaper cutting out the importers that import the original finished products.
@obajitex Exactly they import it and they still don't produce original products , they produce inferior ones that are cheaper cutting out the importers that import the original finished products.
For years, I complained that our Igbo traders should go into manufacturing rather than the hotels and mansions they tend to build; they almost finished me with insults whenever I complained.
Today, the Chinese are wiping my tears away with the way they're bringing manufacturing down to Southeastern Nigeria. Those who will cry will surely fill my heart with joy!
@ThaBoyYom We pray so that his plans for our lives won't be aborted or destroyed by forces of darkness.
Jesus christ prayed even though he knew God's plan for his life was to die for us, so that we can be redeemed back to him through his blood.
You can't make prayer seem useless.
M.C
The plans are unchangeable for a reason, and God almighty made it so, why do you think something like dark forces can change an unchangeable plan of God almighty?, Maybe you don't really grasp the bone of contention here.
@ThaBoyYom We pray so that his plans for our lives won't be aborted or destroyed by forces of darkness.
Jesus christ prayed even though he knew God's plan for his life was to die for us, so that we can be redeemed back to him through his blood.
You can't make prayer seem useless.
M.C
@Dannyrockie@ThaBoyYom The plans are unchangeable for a reason, and God almighty made it so, why do you think something like dark forces can change an unchangeable plan of God almighty?, Maybe you don't really grasp the bone of contention here.
@obajitex The importers buy original then import them here, the Chinese that come to Nigeria to do the manufacturing, see it's difficult to get raw materials so they resort to using the few raw materials they can find to make inferior goods and it will be cheaper.