Human rights advocate and civic voice, Dr. Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr. Mo, has expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing wave of violence in Benue State, revealing an emotional conversation he had with former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi regarding the tragic loss of over 200 Nigerian lives.
In a heartfelt public statement, Dr. Mo disclosed that he had been in constant communication with affected persons in Benue while simultaneously fielding distress calls from the region. Amid the heartbreak, he reached out to Peter Obi to seek his intervention and solidarity.
> “I reached out to Mr. @PeterObi, seeking his intervention and support. He was deeply pained,” Dr. Mo recounted.
According to Dr. Mo, Obi expressed a sincere desire to visit Benue but voiced concerns about being barred by the state government — a situation he previously faced while attempting to sympathize with grieving communities in Plateau, Niger, and other crisis-ridden areas.
> “Mo, if I cut short my UK trip to return to Benue, my greatest worry is… what if the Governor refuses me entry again?” Obi reportedly told Dr. Mo.
“How do I explain to him that my visit is not about politics, but about compassion…?”
Dr. Mo affirmed that Obi’s motivation is rooted in humanity, not politics. He highlighted how, in many democracies across the globe — including India and South Africa — opposition leaders are permitted, even welcomed, at scenes of national grief. He called for similar maturity in Nigeria’s political space.
> “Leadership, at its core, is the ability to rise above partisanship when life and human dignity are at stake,” Dr. Mo said.
Obi, known for visiting conflict-impacted communities, reportedly ended the conversation with a quiet reflection:
> “Mo, all I could do this morning was go to church and pray for Benue, for Nigeria, for our people.”
Dr. Mo concluded his statement with a hopeful prayer: “May Nigeria heal and overcome.”
