NLC condemns reported blockage of Peter Obi’s convoy in Benue
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the reported obstruction of Peter Obi’s convoy from entering Yelwata, a community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), was scheduled to visit the area to honor victims of a previous massacre and to offer condolences to the families affected.
However, reports indicate that he was prevented from accessing the community. In response to the incident, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah expressed alarm at what he characterized as an escalating intolerance toward opposing political views in the country.
“We are alarmed by the rising cases of political violence across the country, which reflect a reluctance to accept alternative viewpoints,” Upah stated. “Yet, we operate within a multi-party democracy, and the constitution guarantees this right.”
Upah described the growing intolerance as “unhelpful, unnecessary, and unacceptable,” warning that political disagreements should not escalate to violence or efforts to stifle dissenting voices. He called on those fostering political intolerance to reconsider their actions, emphasizing that Nigeria’s democracy was achieved through significant sacrifice.
“Those promoting this agenda of intolerance must be halted in their tracks. They lack understanding of how this democracy was won,” he said.
He urged politicians and their supporters to engage in peaceful political discourse, focusing on policies and ideas rather than hostility. “We call on all to eschew violence. Engage in issues-based politics, rather than crude and misguided partisanship without vision,” he added.
Upah also stressed the importance of respecting diverse opinions within the context of Nigeria’s multi-party system, which mandates that all political groups be allowed to participate freely.
This statement from the NLC comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with various parties ramping up their campaigns and mobilization efforts across the nation.
Yelwata has previously experienced severe violence and has become a poignant symbol of the insecurity and suffering caused by conflict in Benue State. Upah noted that the incident involving Obi should be viewed in a broader context, cautioning that political differences must never serve as justification for violence, exclusion, or the suppression of opposing views.
