Human rights lawyer Aloy Ejimakor has come out swinging after a group of Benue youths blocked a major road to prevent Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from passing — and he is not holding back.
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The incident, which has since sparked heated debate across social media timelines from Lagos to Abuja, saw a faction of youths in Benue State physically barricading a key roadway in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to obstruct the movement of the former Anambra governor and Labour Party flagbearer.
But Ejimakor — known for his sharp legal mind and even sharper tongue — was having none of it.
In a blistering response that has since gone viral, the human rights advocate questioned the logic and moral standing of the youths involved, pointedly asking why the same energy used to block Peter Obi could not be channelled towards stopping the very real security threats plaguing Benue State.
“You cannot block terrorists and bandits who have turned your land into a killing field, but you can block Igbos?” Ejimakor reportedly fumed, in a statement that resonated deeply with many Nigerians who have watched Benue communities suffer repeated attacks from armed herdsmen over the years.
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A Question of Priorities
Ejimakor’s criticism cuts to the heart of a painful irony that many Nigerians — particularly from the Middle Belt — understand all too well. Benue State has for years been one of the hardest-hit states when it comes to farmer-herder clashes, with entire communities displaced and countless lives lost to violence.
For many observers, the sight of young Benue men and women expending energy and passion to stop a peaceful presidential candidate from moving freely, while armed groups continue to terrorise their communities with relative impunity, raises serious and uncomfortable questions.
The human rights lawyer’s position is clear: misdirected anger helps no one, least of all the very communities suffering the consequences.
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Peter Obi’s Benue Visit
Peter Obi had been in Benue State as part of his ongoing campaign trail ahead of the 2023 general elections. The Labour Party candidate, who has built a massive grassroots following — popularly known as the “Obidient Movement” — has been touring states across the country, drawing enormous crowds and stirring political conversations at every stop.
The road blockade, therefore, was seen by many of his supporters as not just an attack on Obi personally, but a broader statement of ethnic tension — something that Ejimakor was clearly not prepared to let slide without a strong rebuke.
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Social Media Reacts
As expected, Nigerians on Twitter (now X), Facebook, and WhatsApp groups wasted no time weighing in on the controversy. Many agreed with Ejimakor’s sentiment, arguing that such acts of ethnic-motivated obstruction only deepen divisions in a country already struggling with its unity.
Others, however, cautioned against reading too deep into the actions of what may have been a small, fringe group — arguing that they do not represent the broader views of Benue people, many of whom have shown solidarity with Peter Obi’s campaign.
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The Bigger Picture
This incident is yet another reminder of the complex web of ethnicity, politics, and security that defines Nigeria’s electoral landscape. With the 2023 elections having already passed, the conversations it sparked about who gets to move freely in this country — and who doesn’t — remain as relevant as ever.
Ejimakor’s words may have been fired in the heat of political battle, but the question he raised deserves a calm, honest national conversation:
Why is it easier for Nigerians to turn on each other than to confront the real threats tearing their communities apart?
What do you think? Was Ejimakor right to call out the Benue youths? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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