The Presidency on Tuesday dismissed claims by Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that suspected political thugs prevented him from visiting Yelwata community in Benue State, accusing the former Anambra State governor of seeking publicity.
Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala, reacting to Obi’s account in a post on his verified X handle, described the former Labour Party presidential candidate as someone who “loves content creation.”
Bwala also referenced Obi’s appearance at the inauguration of the national campaign office of NDC presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, arguing that some of Obi’s political actions had escaped public scrutiny.
He wrote: “He just loves content creation. As a presidential candidate of a party @saintdegenius, he attended a campaign flagging of another presidential candidate @seyimakinde. In that rally, he was shouting APM @AlliedPeoples (which is a political colloquialism meaning supremacy of the party mentioned) yet that contradiction did not make it to ‘stories trending’ on Arise News morning show. Why? Because it will portray @PeterObi as none other than a content creator candidate.
“Do you need a prophet to tell you……?”
Bwala’s remarks came shortly after Obi alleged that his convoy was stopped by suspected political thugs while on what he described as a humanitarian visit to Yelwata community in Benue State to sympathise with families affected by recent killings.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Obi said he travelled to Benue on Tuesday morning after attending the opening of Makinde’s national campaign office in Abuja a day earlier.
According to him, his attendance at the political event was intended to promote tolerance and healthy democratic engagement.
“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,” Obi said.
He added: “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.”
Explaining the purpose of his Benue trip, Obi said: “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.”
He alleged that his convoy was prevented from reaching the community.
“Regrettably, our convoy was prevented from proceeding to the community by thugs chanting, ‘Peter Obi, go back,'” he stated.
Describing the development as disturbing, Obi said: “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.”
The former Anambra governor urged Nigerians to put national unity above political interests.