A Makurdi based group, The Benue Development Initiative (BDI) has faulted  Governor Hyacinth Alia over events that stopped the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi from visiting the state, saying the action is reprehensible and ungodly.

The governor had recently prevented Mr. Obi from visiting various internally displaced people spread across the state.

Governor Alia was reported to have told Obi that he would be unable to guarantee his safety should he choose to come to Benue state.

Commenting on the development in a statement issued in Makurdi on Tuesday, the National Convener of BDI, Mr. Samuel A. Terver flayed the governor, describing his actions as inhuman, autocratic and an abuse of office.

According to Terver, “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives all citizens the rights to freedom of movement across the country. No one, no matter how highly placed, has the right to abridge such privilege. Not even Governor Alia.

“To us, what the Governor who is a Catholic priest has done with this action is unfortunate and ungodly considering the fact that the action negates all the norms of the morals of the Catholic Church and the Nigerian constitution.

“Gov. Alia has exposed himself as a man who doesn’t care for the people but himself hiding under religion toga as a coverup, if not, didn’t Mr. Obi visit other states? Mr. Obi was in Nasarawa state, Plateau etc without any hindrance or obstacles. So, the people of Benue can see clearly that the governor is not what he claims”.

He queried that what other reasons can the governor give other than political and personal interest for this unpopular and anti-people decision?

Contrarily, Catholic churches worldwide don’t play or politick with the issue of humanitarian, philanthropy, reaching out to the displaced, indigents and poor especially conflicts ravaged areas and this is clearly opposite of what Gov. Alia has done”.

The group however admonished the governor to rescind his position on the matter and apologize to Mr. Obi as a means of redeeming his image, government and stop playing to the gallery.

“Failure to do this (reconsider his action) will give him away as ungodly, undemocratic and autocratic, and this kind of behaviour and attitude would not be allowed or tolerated here in Benue State,” the group concluded in the statement.

The group commended Mr. Obi for his humanitarian activities across the country and appealed to him to reschedule his visits to Benue state and come back to continue his godly activities in the interest of victims who are currently going through pains and need such.