Lawyer and Arise analyst, Frank Tietie, has condemned the disruption surrounding Peter Obi’s visit to Benue State, accusing the APC of enabling political violence and warning that its leaders could face international criminal scrutiny over alleged crimes against humanity.
Recall that on Tuesday, the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi visited Benue State to sympathise with victims of the Yelewata attacks, but his movement was disrupted by a reported road blockade. The incident occurred as Obi and his delegation made their way to the affected community, with the development prompting questions over the security arrangements for the visit and the responsibility of the state authorities.
Reacting to the development, Tietie described the response of the Benue State Government as embarrassing, accusing Governor Hyacinth Alia of failing to guarantee a peaceful environment for Obi’s visit and to provide adequate security.
“If anything happens to Peter Obi, it becomes an international issue, and Nigerians must be worried that it is failing in its complementarity responsibility in ensuring that these patterns of political violence are not being tolerated. If that continues, it might amount to an international crime, meaning that some of these officials will one day, because of these crimes committed against humanity.
“The leaders of the APC in this country risk being tagged as international criminals who have committed crimes against humanity if they continue this pattern of political violence as they have done.”
“The response by the state government is embarrassing, because I expected the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, to be apologizing to the Nigerian people for not being able to guarantee a peaceful environment for a personality like Peter Obi to visit Benue State. So, what he has simply expressed is that he’s not in control of the security of Benue State and that he cannot even create an atmosphere of conciliation, but has engendered political violence in his own state.”
On Benue state government’s claim that Obi’s visit required prior security coordination, Tietie said there was no constitutional requirement for citizens to obtain a governor’s clearance before travelling, citing Section 41, which guarantees freedom of movement.
“No, the governor is under the illusion that there is some kind of requirement that a Nigerian citizen must get clearance from a governor, no matter how prominent he is or how ordinary he is. Section 41 of the constitution guarantees freedom of movement in this country. The governor does not—Peter Obi does not need to consult anybody before visiting any part of this country, and the same thing applies to anybody,” he stressed.
Tietie also called on Governor Alia to investigate the reported resistance, which he described as organised persecution, warning that tolerating political violence could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s democracy and stability.
“I like the fact that the police acknowledged that there was resistance, and this resistance appeared organized. It is this organized persecution against a political group, whether it’s the NDC or any other political party, that makes it a crime. Worst still is that there’s tolerance on the part of Nigerian state authorities. If Governor Alia can save his face, if he announces that he has commenced an investigation or some form of inquiry to bring to book those elements that were causing mayhem in Benue State.
“Governor Alia should be held responsible. The All Progressives Congress is risking being held responsible for any snowballing of political violence in this country. The world is watching, and these persons will be held to account, no doubt.”
Drumming support for Obi, Tietie described him as a politician genuinely interested in the people, accusing other politicians of prioritising personal gains while Nigerians grow poorer under their leadership.
“Peter Obi, no doubt, is interested in the people. But we know many politicians who are not interested in the people; they are interested in impoverishing the people. Nigerians are poorer, and they don’t care about the people at all. What they do is simply take all the resources, make the place ungovernable, and then go abroad.”
Tietie urged Nigerians and political leaders to protect Obi, whom he described as a man of peace, while calling for issue-based campaigns and peaceful elections to promote national unity.
“That’s the reason why we need to protect someone like Peter Obi, a man of peace. It shows that you are civilized. Even Governor Wike was smarter as Governor of Rivers State; he had to invite Peter Obi and gave him a platform. Look at Alia; he doesn’t understand how politics is run.
“We need to put this country together and organize elections and election campaigns based on issues and in a peaceful environment.”
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