Benue: Peter Obi’s Attackers Are People In Their 40s And 50s — Onjeh

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Daniel Onjeh, has distanced youths in Benue State from the attack on the convoy of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to Ireporter Online, Onjeh, who was with Obi during the incident, said those who allegedly barricaded the road and attempted to stop the convoy were predominantly middle-aged men rather than young people.

The former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) president made the clarification in a statement, urging members of the public, journalists and political actors not to collectively describe the alleged attackers as Benue youths.

Onjeh argued that the voting pattern from the 2023 presidential election showed that Obi enjoyed significant support among residents of Benue State, particularly among young people.

He noted that Obi secured 308,372 votes in the state, narrowly behind the All Progressives Congress candidate, who polled 310,468 votes.

According to him, Obi also received more than 95,000 votes in Benue South, while the candidates of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party recorded approximately 40,000 votes each or less in the area.

Onjeh questioned why young people who strongly supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election would suddenly be accused of mobilising to prevent him from entering the state.

He maintained that Obi had not been rejected by Benue residents or the youths of the state, describing the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s support base in Benue as organic.

Onjeh said several young people had contacted him following the incident to express disappointment and distance themselves from the attack.

According to him, some youths also expressed their willingness to welcome Obi back to the state and demonstrate that the actions of those involved did not represent the views of young people across Benue.

Speaking further on the incident, Onjeh said videos and photographs from the scene supported his claim that the alleged attackers were mostly older men.

He said he was standing beside Obi during the incident and observed the individuals involved at close range.

According to Onjeh, many of the men carrying sticks and stones and participating in the road barricade appeared to be in their 40s and 50s.

He also clarified that Obi’s visit to Benue was not a political campaign activity.

Onjeh said the purpose of the trip was for Obi to visit Yelwata and commiserate with families affected by violence, meet survivors and displaced persons, and express solidarity with victims.

He maintained that the visit was intended to be quiet and without the usual political mobilisation or fanfare associated with campaign activities.

Onjeh argued that the roadblock prevented Obi from reaching other parts of Makurdi and interacting with residents, insisting that the actions of a small group should not be interpreted as the collective position of the people of Benue State.

He appealed to the media and political stakeholders to stop referring to those behind the incident as “Benue youths.”

The NDC senatorial candidate warned against normalising political violence, stressing that disagreements with political candidates should be expressed through the ballot box rather than violence.

Onjeh added that the alleged attackers should not be allowed to become the face of the young people of Benue State, insisting that thuggery and barricades have no place in a democratic society.