Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia over the disruption of Peter Obi’s recent visit to the state.

Kwankwaso described the incident as “unfortunate and unnecessary”, saying Alia should have been more receptive to advice and guidance in handling political and governance matters.

He made the remarks during an interview on *Untold Stories with Adesuwa*, while discussing the controversy surrounding Obi’s visit to Benue.

Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, had visited the state to sympathise with victims of insecurity, including families affected by the 2025 attacks in Yelwata.

However, his convoy was reportedly blocked along the Makurdi-Gboko Road while he was on his way to the community.

The Benue State Government denied involvement in the incident, saying Alia had not been officially informed of Obi’s visit.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Solomon Lorpev, challenged those alleging government involvement to provide evidence.

The state Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, however, confirmed that the NDC had notified the police command of Obi’s planned visit and that security personnel had been deployed.

He said the party did not request the police to forward the notification letter to the governor.

Reacting to the incident, Kwankwaso said he had spoken with some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were also unhappy with the development.

“What happened in Benue was unfortunate and was unnecessary, and I can tell you I had the opportunity to talk to one or two people on the side of APC; they were very angry because he, the governor, shouldn’t have done that,” he said.

Kwankwaso said some governors become less willing to listen to advice after assuming office, stressing that political leaders should continue learning from those with experience.

“You see, the problem of these governors generally is once you go into government house, you think we have defeated everybody and they are not looking for any advice,” he said.

He also spoke about Alia’s political background and his relationship with Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, a former governor of Benue State.

“My colleague, my brother, who was also a 1999 governor, and we were in the senate together, now, the SGF. Akume, George Akume, brought him from the church,” Kwankwaso said.

“I don’t think he was a politician. I never heard his name.”

According to Kwankwaso, aspiring and serving governors need to acquire political and administrative experience before assuming major responsibilities.

“You see, this tutorship: you can’t just become governor day one even if you are in politics, even if you are senator, or house of reps, there are certain things that you will lie low and learn, and then you build your knowledge, then you become a successful governor, and then you become a tutor yourself,” he said.

He added that governors should study the experiences of their predecessors and avoid repeating their mistakes.

“While you are doing it, you should avoid the mistakes of the former governor or governors,” Kwankwaso said. “For you to be a successful governor, you need to be a successful politician and someone who has learnt something.”

Kwankwaso further argued that political power and access to public resources could sometimes create a sense of detachment from political realities.

“For somebody who came from nowhere and straight to the government house, he goes there with sirens; billions or trillions now are coming into the treasury. You think you have finished with everybody,” he said.

The former Kano governor also compared the present political environment with the situation in 1999, when he and other governors assumed office.

He said the role and influence of state governors had changed over the years.

“And that is why I don’t envy Bola Tinubu, who thought the governors that we have now are like governors in 1999, where people were in charge; now they are not in charge; they are just making mistakes, like the one you just mentioned in Benue,” he said.

When asked whether he was referring specifically to Governor Alia, Kwankwaso responded: “Oh yes, big mistake.”

The Benue State Government has since rejected Kwankwaso’s comments.

Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, described the remarks as unwarranted and urged Kwankwaso to concentrate on political matters in Kano rather than interfere in the affairs of Benue State.