By Joyce Ekeh
The Benue State Government has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to name the aide they alleged obstructed Obi from visiting Yelwata community in the state and provide evidence linking the individual to the incident.
The government said it was prepared to support a police investigation into the allegation and ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, made the position known on Thursday while speaking on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme.
Kula said the state government was not aware of the incident when it occurred, insisting that officials only became aware after photographs showing the alleged obstruction circulated online.
He challenged Obi and the NDC to identify the person they accused and provide evidence to enable the relevant authorities investigate the matter.
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 is any evidence, the Commissioner of Police should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book. These are easy assignments. They have the ability to do it.”
He maintained that the allegation should not be allowed to remain at the level of political accusations, arguing that identifying the alleged individual would enable the authorities to establish what actually happened.
According to him, “The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening.”
Kula said it was therefore unfair to immediately attribute the alleged obstruction to the governor without establishing who was responsible for the action.
He added that the state government was willing to allow the appropriate authorities investigate the incident and take action based on the findings.
On the wider security situation in Benue, the governor’s spokesman acknowledged the continuing challenges but said the state government was working to improve the situation.
“What is happening to Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states. It’s not peculiar to Benue,” he said.
“But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable.”
Kula said Governor Alia remained concerned about the security situation and was committed to reducing insecurity across the state.
According to him, “The reverend father has said to you earlier that he is not comfortable and he is not sleeping in ensuring that the insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum.
“We now have what we can describe as relative peace in the state.”
