The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has praised Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, for the warm reception he received during his recent visit to the state.
Obi said the governor personally returned his phone call before the visit and assured him of a cordial reception, describing the gesture as a demonstration of statesmanship and respect despite their political differences.
The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a post on his X account on Thursday while reflecting on his engagements in Benue State.
Obi arrived in Makurdi on Wednesday alongside his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for a town hall meeting as part of their activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
During the visit, Obi travelled to Gboko, where he paid a courtesy visit to the Tor Tiv and met with the Catholic Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. Father William Avenya.
He also visited the College of Nursing Sciences established by the bishop, pledging an additional N10 million to support the institution.
The NDC candidate subsequently visited Yelwata community to sympathise with families affected by the deadly massacre.
As part of his intervention, Obi announced N5 million for the construction of a borehole to provide residents with access to clean water. He also pledged N10 million towards the education of children orphaned by the attack.
Expressing concern over the plight of the affected children, Obi stressed the importance of ensuring that the tragedy did not destroy their future.
“No child should be forced to let the tragedy that has affected their family determine the course of their future,” he said.
He further maintained that although financial assistance could not bring back those who lost their lives, there was a responsibility to support survivors and provide opportunities for a better future.
“Education must continue to serve as a bridge to a brighter future for these children,” he added.
Obi and Kwankwaso later attended a town hall meeting alongside other NDC candidates in the state, where they engaged residents and discussed challenges affecting their communities.
According to Obi, the engagements provided an opportunity to listen to the people and understand their concerns, noting that leadership should be measured by its impact on citizens.
“We are firmly of the view that leadership begins with listening and must ultimately be judged by the meaningful difference it makes in people’s lives,” he stated.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Alia, Obi said the governor’s personal response to his call and assurance of a warm reception reflected the importance of putting humanity above political differences.
“This exemplifies the true essence of statesmanship: placing humanity and mutual respect above political differences,” he said.
He also appreciated the people of Benue State for their hospitality, praying for God’s continued blessings upon the state and Nigeria.
Recall that Obi’s previous attempt to visit Benue in September to sympathise with victims of the Yelwata massacre was reportedly disrupted after some youths blocked his movement.
