Benue State Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu has stated that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) did not ask him to transmit a letter notifying Governor Hyacinth Alia of Peter Obi’s planned visit to the state.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Lunch Time Politics programme on Thursday, Nwadiogbu explained that members of the NDC visited his office and presented a letter informing the police command of Obi’s intended arrival. He said the information was primarily for security arrangements.
According to the commissioner, his Public Relations Officer informed him on the day that NDC members intended to pay him a visit around 3 pm while he was in the office. He agreed to receive them. The group eventually arrived around 5:30 pm after the police had waited from 3 pm past 4:30 pm and were about to leave.
At the end of the discussion, the visitors presented the letter and informed him that the presidential candidate would be in town by 8 am the following day. Nwadiogbu responded that the police do not keep officers in storage like a yam barn, noting that all personnel are always engaged on duty. He added that manpower shortages exist across Nigeria, meaning officers are continuously deployed, and that time would be required to make men available for any additional operation.
