…Police Says It Made Adequate Security Arrangements
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the Benue State Government to disrupt the planned visit of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi to the state on Wednesday, warning against any attempt to undermine the exercise.
The party alleged that some elements within the state had threatened to disrupt Obi’s activities and called on security agencies to provide adequate protection for the presidential candidate and his supporters during engagements in Makurdi and Yelwata.
The NDC governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, made the allegation on Tuesday at a press conference in Makurdi ahead of Obi’s visit.
He urged the state government to shelve any plan to disrupt the exercise, insisting that the party wouldn’t be intimidated or provoked into taking the law into its hands.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command of the Nigeria Police, DSP Aondongu Orchia, said, the police have made adequate security arrangements preparatory to Obi’s visit to the state.
Shija, however, declared that the party would proceed with its arrangements for the visit despite the alleged threats.
Welcoming Obi to the state, the NDC candidate said the party had been reliably informed that “the APC controlled government in Benue State is not happy that such a dazzling shinning political star would be here obliterating everything that the All Progressives Congress (APC) pretends to be doing here.
“As expected, the State government has issued threats to stop the visit of Mr. Peter Obi specifically at the Yelwata community. This is certainly not a mere rumour. This very government sent thugs of the infamous ‘No Alia, No Benue’ to waylay, throw stones and stop Peter Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata town two months ago.
“It was a monumental national disgrace and a display of immaturity. You cannot stop a moving train. No individual has the capacity to halt the will of God in the forthcoming general election, which is providentially tilting towards the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as President and Vice-President.”
He added that “The government must be cautioned to shelve its diabolical plan to disrupt the visit of Mr. Peter Obi in Benue State. We call on all law enforcement agents to protect Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters as they carry out their legitimate activities in Makurdi and Yelwata tomorrow.
“The NDC won’t yield to any blackmail or intimidation, neither are we going to succumb to the temptation to take laws into our hands. The Police and the DSS are already aware of the militant groups floated by this Government to hurt and inflict violence on supporters. We call on them to do their job.”
Asked if the NDC has made a formal request for Obi to come into Benue, Shija said, the party has written a letter to the office of the governor and it has been received by his office, adding that before now it had also written to the security agencies in the state.
He however stated that during electioneering campaigns such things are not necessary but the party had thought it best to “fulfill all righteousness.”
The NDC candidate emphasised: “And get this, that we don’t have to take any permission from anybody, but we do this because some people say we should fulfill all righteousness that don’t even exist.
“But here is the letter. So we don’t expect anybody to disrupt the activities of Obi, that are scheduled for tomorrow.”
Shija further explained that Obi’s visit also have a humanitarian dimension, as the presidential candidate is expected to visit Yelwata, a community that witnessed a massacre in wherein more than 200 people were reportedly killed.
He said Obi would also hold a town hall meeting with a cross-section of Benue residents to present his political message and discuss issues affecting the state.
As part of his itinerary, the NDC presidential candidate is expected to lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating the 271 victims killed in Yelwata, along Lafia Road, and pay condolences to families of the deceased persons.
Shija stressed, however, that Obi wouldn’t visit any government facility or Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp during his stay in the state.
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