[VIDEO] Yelewata elders apologise to Peter Obi days after being denied entry into Benue, urge him to visit again
The elders and victims of the Yelwata community in Benue State have apologised to former Anambra State governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi over the harassment and embarrassment he and his delegation allegedly faced during an aborted visit to the community.
The elders, who gathered at a memorial wall erected in honour of the 271 victims of the Yelwata attack, also expressed appreciation to Obi for his decision to visit the community and sympathise with residents over the loss of lives.
According to the spokesman of Yelewata Council of Elders, Benue State, Timothy Angur, said Peter Obi’s planned visit was motivated by empathy and a desire to stand with the people during their period of grief.
He said, “we also wish to apologize to Peter Obi for the harassment, embarrassment, of his body of him and his delegation. The Yelwata Council of Elders sincerely appreciates Mr Peter Obi’s decision to visit our community and stand with our people in their moment of grief.”
They, however, alleged that residents were mobilised to prevent the former governor from accessing the community.
An indigen of Yelewata also rejected the explanation reportedly given by the Benue State Government that the incident occurred because of ignorance among residents.
He described the explanation as “the most laughable ground”, insisting that the community was aware of Obi’s intended visit.
He stated, “Peter Obi, out of empathy and compassion, decided to come and share his condolences with us. They mobilized us to stop him, and then they are telling us that the government came out to make a press release on the most laughable ground that it was ignorance of the people that actually blocked Peter Obi from coming to Yelwata.”
The community representatives said they regretted the treatment meted out to Obi and his delegation and apologised to the former governor for the incident.
The statement came amid controversy surrounding Obi’s aborted visit to Yelwata, where hundreds of people were killed in an attack.
The elders said Obi’s willingness to visit the community and share in the grief of victims demonstrated empathy and compassion towards those affected by the tragedy.