Obi Ignored Protocol, Courting Trouble

Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, has accused Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of repeatedly ignoring state protocol during visits, warning that such actions could create unnecessary tension with the government. Reacting to Tuesday's incident where youths blocked Obi's convoy in Makurdi, Iorpev said the opposition leader failed to notify the state government of his visit, despite his status as a former governor and high-profile figure. 'A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government. We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety,' the commissioner stated. 'This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people.' He described Obi's repeated failure to follow protocol as 'looking for our trouble,' adding that Benue people are peace-loving and hospitable. Iorpev noted that Obi's visit coincided with a meeting of youths from the state's 23 local government areas, which may have contributed to the road blockade. 'If they were coming from Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time of his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,' he said. By TheTimes Nigeria