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Tag: Alia

  • I didn’t call for Ganduje’s resignation – Gov. Alia

    I didn’t call for Ganduje’s resignation – Gov. Alia

    Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.

    This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.

    The CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor has called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.

    The Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.

    He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of APC.

    “It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    “The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.

    “Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the National party chairman”, he said.

    He said the governor was focused positively changing the fortunes of the state.

    “He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories.” Kula said.

  • Reps summon Gov. Alia’s Aide, others over missing N20bn Benue LG funds

    Reps summon Gov. Alia’s Aide, others over missing N20bn Benue LG funds

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura and others, for interrogation over alleged embezzlement of 20 billion naira belonging to the 23 local government councils of the state.

    Other persons to appear before the House with Akura are, the Directors-General Services and Administration (DGSAs) in the 23 local governments of Benue State, Cashiers and other key staff of the Benue State Government who will answer questions bordering on gross abuse of office and massive fraud.

    Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Special Adviser, Akura and the others will be quizzed by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions on Tuesday, 5th March, 2024 over the reported missing N20bn local government funds.

    The letter summoning the LG Bureau Adviser and the others read that the petition will be heard and determined in their absence if they fail to honour the invitation on Tuesday.

    “Whereas the above named petition is now pending before this Committee and the particulars aforesaid are already within your knowledge, and whereas, the petition has been assigned to be heard by the Committee for determination.

    “YOU ARE HEREBY required to note Sections 88 and 89 (e) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and appear in person before this Committee on Tuesday, 5th March, 2024 at 2.00pm or so soon thereafter as the Committee shall direct.

    “AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you do not attend the hearing as required, the case may be heard or determined in your absence”, the letter read.

    The summon of Governor Alia’s Special Adviser by the House followed a petition brought to it by a pro-democracy, anti-corruption civil society organization, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN).

    The group had written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the National Assembly, demanding that the Special Adviser to the Governor Hyacinth Alia on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Akura and others be arrested, interrogated and prosecuted for alleged diversion of local government funds.

    In the said petition also sent to President Bola Tinubu, GICN, a group made up of lawyers, private investigators, human rights activists, media professionals and policy analysts, accused Akura of supervising brazen embezzlement and diversion of over N20 billion, being part of aggregate Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds which accrued to the 23 Local Government Councils in Benue State between June to November, 2023.

    It said the LG Bureau under Governor Alia has been using some of its staff and privately owned companies to syphon the funds meant for local government councils in the state.

    “From the records attached as APPENDIX 2A and 2B, the aggregate FAAC allocation received in the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA), maintained pursuant to Section 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) for onward disbursement to the 23 Local Government Councils within the period under review totals N55, 897,592,592.81 only.

    “Out of the above sum, only N35,849,988,725.37 was disbursed to the 23 Local Government Councils. This left a balance of N20,051,603,867.44, which remains undisbursed, even though the SJLGA is supposed to be a transit account and not a savings account. It happened that Dr. Dennis Akura under the strict directives of Governor Alia, allegedly diverted the aforesaid N35,849,988,725.37 using staff of the Bureau as well as some companies they have registered mainly for that purpose…” the group stated.

    The group urged the House, security agencies and anti corruption agencies, to ensure that Akura and others fingered in the petition are brought to justice and made to account for their actions.

  • I‘ve nothing to hide, not afraid of probe – Ortom

    I‘ve nothing to hide, not afraid of probe – Ortom

    Former Benue State Governor. Samuel Ortom says he is not afraid of probe, as he has nothing to hide.

    Ortom said this in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr Terver Akase in Makurdi on Tuesday.

    Akase said that the former Governor had no reservations over steps taken by his successor, Gov Hyacinth Alia, to probe his eight-year rule.

    “Ortom is willing to cooperate with the probe panels as long as the investigation is carried out in line with the law, because his administration was built on transparency, accountability, and good governance.

    “Ortom is ready to provide any information or clarification, as may be required.

    “He has urged all those who held political appointments his his administration to make themselves available whenever called upon to provide clarifications,” he said.

    Alia had on Monday, inaugurated two commissions to probe the administration of Ortom from 2015 to 2023.

    The two Judicial Commissions were; Commission of Inquiry into the Income and Expenditures of Benue State Government from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023 and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Sale/Lease of government assets.

  • Gov Alia’s allegations against me laughable, uncharitable – Senator Moro

    Gov Alia’s allegations against me laughable, uncharitable – Senator Moro

    The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District Senator Abba Moro has said the allegations leveled against him by the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia are absurd, uncharitable, baseless and laughable.

    This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Benue Federal lawmaker on Monday night stating that:

    “My attention has been drawn to a press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia titled, THICK PLOTS TO DESTABILIZE ALIA’S GOVERNMENT UNCOVERED, wherein I was accused of knowing the root cause of insecurity in Benue State and discreetly cooking crooked plans to destabilize the state.

    “The hastily concocted and attention-seeking press release should ordinarily not deserve a response from me but for the unsuspecting reading public that stands to be misinformed and misled if the records are not put into proper perspectives.

    “It is absurd, uncharitable and laughable for the government of Benue State to accuse me of plots to destabilize Benue State after all my efforts to support the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. I want to believe that the governor did not see the content of the press release by his CPS.

    “For the records, in his hotel room in Abuja and his house in Makurdi, I had severally advised the governor against dissolving the democratically elected councils in Benue State. I had advised that as a governor who’s a Reverend Father and who had sworn to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he should be different from the ordinary politician, but he yielded to the pressure from the hawks around him who believed it was their turn to take over the local government areas.

    “Dissolving democratically elected councils and setting up caretaker committees is against the grain of the constitution, is an aberration, illegal and alien to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    “It was when all my entreaties fell on deaf ears that I did that which any responsible lawmaker representing the people would do. I moved a motion to draw the attention of Nigerians to the illegality in dissolving democratically elected councils in Benue State and other states in Nigeria and called on the senate to resolve to reverse the trend. And to serve as deterrent, I urged the senate to resolve to urge the Federal Government to withhold federation account allocations to the illegal entities called caretaker committees as not to do so would amount to encouraging illegality and unconstitutionality.

    “To be so paranoid about my innocuous legislative action and bringing it up at every conversation smacks of a government that has lost focus and the machinery of government. My motion never contained security or insecurity elements.If the Benue State Government now suddenly acknowledges that her action in desolving democratically elected councils has security implications then the responsible thing to do is to have the courage to reverse herself.

    “I also advised the governor of Benue State at that early stage to appoint a security adviser and convoke a security Stakeholders’ meeting to review the security situation in Benue State. This certainly cannot be coming from someone plotting to destabilize Benue State.

    “The penultimate press conference held by the National Assembly caucus of Benue State was intended to address the security situation in Benue State after the meeting of the senate and security Stakeholders, calling on the federal and state governments to review their security architectures and confront the menace of insecurity frontally. It nothing to do with the illegal sacking of the democratically elected councils.

    “I find the aggressive response by the Benue State Government to the harmless and patriotic outcry of the Benue State National Assembly caucus concerning the suffering of Benue people in the hands of herders as very unfortunate and smacks of irresponsibility and cluelessness. And to single out senator Abba Moro and Hon. Phillip Agbese for attacks smacks of a contrived vendetta against a people.

    “In the press release by the National Assembly caucus on Wednesday, which I read, the security situation in Benue was never attributed to the dissolution of elected councils. I wonder how governor Alia is comfortably carrying on like nothing is happening, when Benue people are being killed and chased away from their ancestral homes without any form of resistance and not even a visit to the affected communities by the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor to identify with the people or even a statement fromgovernment house. Not even to provide camps for displaced persons in Zone C let alone ask the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to provide relief materials to the people.

    “I represent NINE LGAs, out of 23, in the Senate and cannot keep quiet and pretend that all is well with my people when all is not well. My effort and that of other senators resulted in the marathon meeting that the Nigerian Senate had with Service Chiefs and many other relevant persons on Tuesday, 13th February, 2024. This is in addition to the personal efforts I have been making towards alleviating the pains of those directly affected by the mindless attacks.

    “As representatives of the people, we feel their pains and share in their worries and fears and we will continue to speak for them not minding whose ox is gored. We are not discreetly cooking any crooked plans to destabilize the state, as maliciously alleged, but only interested in a state where her citizens sleep with their eyes closed and can move about freely without fear of attack.

    “I urge the state government to sit up and carry out its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of the people rather than chasing imaginary enemies. If the governor and his handlers are not bothered and worried about the happenings in the state, we are worried and will continue to speak out until the right things are done and our people begin to have peace in their homes.

    “The general public and the good people of Benue State in particular are enjoined to disregard the watery and baseless statement as it’s merely a calculated attempt by the authors to shift blames, run away from their responsibilities, divert attention from their failures and instigate the public against the Benue State National Assembly Caucus and I.

    “My humble advice to the governor, as always, is not to soil all his plates with palm oil as he may not find one to eat with when the need arises.

  • Benue elders write open letter to Tinubu over looming breakdown of law in Guma LGA by-election

    Benue elders write open letter to Tinubu over looming breakdown of law in Guma LGA by-election

    The Concerned Elders in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State, have penned an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging his intervention in the forthcoming Guma 1 State Constituency Bye Election scheduled for February 3rd, 2024.

    The was signed by 12 local elders and copied to key officials including the National Chairman of APC, DSS, and Benue APC State Chairman, the letter highlights the importance of Mr. President’s leadership in ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and the need for free, fair, and transparent bye-elections in Guma.

    The elders noted in the letter that: “We have unraveled reports of actions that jeopardize the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in Guma, this actions constitute a threat to our security which is a matter of national importance, we urge your office to thoroughly investigate the activities of the Governor and take necessary actions to ensure a transparent , credible , free and fair elections in Guma 1 State Constituency.

     

    READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:

     

    His Excellency,
    The President,
    Federal Republic of Nigeria,
    Presidential Villa, Abuja,
    Nigeria.
    2nd February 2024

    Dear Sir,

    IMPENDING BREAK DOWN OF LAW IN GUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT BYE-ELECTION

    We the concerned elders in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State wishes to write and draw the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria to the alarming situation surrounding the upcoming Guma 1 State Constituency Bye Election scheduled to hold February 3rd 2024 in Benue State.

    It is with great concern that we have come together from our various council wards of Mbawa, Mbabai, Uvir, Nyiev, Mbayer/Yandev, and Mbadwen to express our worries about the destructive activities attributed to the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Hyacinth Iormen Alia.

    We have unraveled reports of actions that jeopardize the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in Guma, this actions constitute a threat to our security which is a matter of national importance, we urge your office to thoroughly investigate the activities of the Governor and take necessary actions to ensure a transparent , credible , free and fair elections in Guma 1 State Constituency.

    We received credible report that early hours of yesterday Governor Hyacinth Iormen Alia had in an arrangement with Senator Gabriel Suswam and concluded plans to support the candidate of the PDP, Hon Jimin Geoffrey, ordinarily we wouldn’t be bothered because the Governor has right to support whoever he wants since he has declared war on the party that brought him to power and has refused to support her candidate, but our concern is the Governor’s approval of 100 million making it a sum of 120 million he has given to PDP for the elections, initially the Governor was supporting the candidate of labour party until early hours of yesterday, he settled for PDP due to the plea of his friend Senator Suswam.

    The Governor in furtherance issued a directive to all his Commissioners and other appointees to go to Guma and do everything humanly possible to win for PDP, Your Excellency sir, we consider this as a direct attack on our lives, the Governor is not from here neither is any of his forest of appointees already carrying out the directive.

    We have gathered that thugs have already been mobilized from Makurdi, Vandeikya, Kwande and other surrounding areas to unleash terror on us, and further desecrate our land, in fear for our lives and self defense we have asked our children male or female to put up strict resistance by carrying local arms and making sure whoever attempts to spill blood in our community will have his own blood spilled to the ground too, we are a little community already destroyed by herders/invaders we won’t survive another crisis and it’s why we are ready to fight for our lives, blood for blood.

    While we would wish to remain committed to the principles of peace and justice, we must express the deep concern and frustration among the people in Guma, in the absence of swift and decisive action, there is a growing sentiment that compels us to state that we have advised our children to defend their rights with unwavering resolve, even if it means doing so with their last blood.

    It is our sincere hope that your intervention will promote democracy, safeguard the rights of the citizens, and uphold the principles that our great nation stands for, we believe in the strength of our democratic institutions, and your leadership is crucial in preserving the sanctity of the electoral process.

    We implore you, Mr. President, to intervene and take necessary steps to address the concerns raised by the citizens of Guma, your leadership is paramount in ensuring that our democracy continues to thrive and that the upcoming elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, i trust in your commitment to the welfare of our nation and its citizens.

    – Elder Akam Gbaka – Mbawa Council Ward
    09110189009
    Converner

    – Elder Tyovenda Iormen – Mbawa Council Ward
    – Hon. Nomor kuji – Uvir Council Ward
    – Hon. Atsongu Kapa – Uvir Council Ward
    – Hon. Mtswen Gbande – Mbadwen Ward
    – Elder Ahine Akiki – Mbadwen Ward
    – Chief Simon kuhe – Nyiev Ward
    – Elder Shima Yuhaga – Nyiev Ward
    – Elder James Kumaga – Mbayer Yandev Ward
    – Chief Taryuhwa Gbaka – Mbayer Yandev Ward
    – Chief Naayande Gwebe – Mbabai Ward
    – Hon. Baikula Mbabov – Mbabai Ward

    Cc
    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF
    The National Chairman All Progressives Congress, APC
    The State Chairman All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue State
    The Department of State Security Services, DSS
    The Nigerian Army
    The Nigerian Police Force, NPF

  • Alleged removal of Agada: Confirmation of Gov Alia’s dictatorship – APC chieftain, Kuanum

    Alleged removal of Agada: Confirmation of Gov Alia’s dictatorship – APC chieftain, Kuanum

    An APC chieftain in Benue state,Terrence Kuanum has said the purported removal of the State chairman of the party, Austin Agada has further confirmed the dictatorial tendencies in Governor Hyacinth Alia.

    Kuanum made this disclosure in a statement issued on Thursday declaring that:

    “It is crystal clear to every sane person that, that suspension is illegal, null and void as the person who signed as APC Chairman for Ehaje Ward of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Godwin O. Abah, is not the ward chairman of the party, but the current Supervisory Councilor of Works, Ogbadibo Local Government Area,who was appointed by the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia.

    Read full statement below:

    “We read in the media of the purported suspension of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada, by his Ehaje ward Executive Committee of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “It is crystal clear to every sane person that, that suspension is illegal, null and void as the person who signed as APC Chairman for Ehaje Ward of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Godwin O. Abah, is not the ward chairman of the party, but the current Supervisory Councilor of Works, Ogbadibo Local Government Area,who was appointed by the governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia.

    “The current APC ward chairman of Ehaje ward is Hon. Peter Onoja, who became chairman at a mini Congress in December 2023.

    “It is also necessary to state that, the current ward Chairman of Ehaje in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Hon. Peter Onoja, has since communicated the Local Government Party Secretariat to disclaim the purported suspension carried out by desperados without recourse to constitutional provisions of the party and by people who lack the constitutional powers to do so.

    “This fact has been collaborated by Hon.Andrew Edache, the APC Chairman for Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, in his press release shortly after the news of the purported suspension of Agada hit the social media.

    “Furthermore, the petition relied upon to issue the purported suspension did not emanate from the polling unit.

    “So, even if Hon. Abah was still the ward chairman of Ehaje Ward, the Ward Executive Committee of the party lacks the powers to adjucate over a petition that did not emanate from the polling unit as clearly stated under Article 21 of the APC Constitution.

    “We are not ignorant of the fact that a mercenary who has been hired to destroy himself, Daniel Onjeh, backed by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State are behind the plot to remove Austin Agada from office.

    “Recall that, few days ago, Onjeh claimed his electoral woes in the February 25th, 2023, Benue South Senatorial election were caused by the capacity chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada.

    “The campaign to remove Agada has been on since Agada and the hardworking State Working Committee refused to compromise the principles of the party and the local government chairmen of the APC in Benue State as well as the State Vice-Chairmen passed a vote of no confidence on the Executive Governor of Benue State, Hycinth Alia.

    “The plot thickened after the governor failed to force his aide, Maurice Orwough, as the Party’s candidate for the February 3rd, 2024, Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election.

    “As you already know, Governor Alia has been under pressure to restore democratic rule at the local government level as he had suspended the elected local government officials that he met in office and replaced them with a caretaker committee that is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.

    ” The governor’s camp know that with Agada as chairman, they will not be able to force their choiced aspirants on the party as candidates in the event the governor wants to conduct local government elections in the state as they know Agada will insist on transparent process.

    “They have referenced what happened in the Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election that has made them to endorse the Labour Party for the February 3rd, 2024 Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election and have resolved to use all available means, including unconstitutional means to get Agada out of office.

    “As you already know, they sponsored hoodlums yesterday to stage an anti-Agada protest at the state Secretariat of the APC in Makurdi, popularly known as Tinubu House, located at No.73 J.S Tarka Way, Makurdi.

    “What happened yesterday is just one of the schemes they have marshalled out in their ‘Agada must go’ plot.

    “I however use this opportunity to call on those after Agada to desist from their already failed mission, especially as the National Secretariat of the party yesterday came out and declared Agada as the bonafide State Chairman of the APC in Benue state.

    “They should rather use their energy in bringing dividends of democracy to Benue people and also support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to fulfil the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu administration.

    “Agada’s tenure as State Chairman has produced a governor,2 Senators,10 House of Representatives members and 21 State Asssmbly members, a feat that is unprecedented in the history of Benue APC.

    “Comrade Agada has done extremely well and his track records are resonating with the people who are patiently waiting to reward him soon with a higher assignment or consolidate him.

  • Benue made a fatal error by voting for Gov Alia-Dr Awunah

    Benue made a fatal error by voting for Gov Alia-Dr Awunah

    An Abuja based public affairs analyst, Dr Peter Awunah has said people of Benue State who voted for Hyacinth Alia as governor committed a fatal error in last year’s election.

    Dr Awunah made this assertion in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja declaring that:

    Benue people who voted Alia in last year’s election must be ashamed of themselves for making such a mistake. Since he came to power, no one can tell the direction that the man who boasts of being the ship that ferried all APC candidates to victory is heading.

    ” There is evident confusion even within his cabinet. There is no clear focus, no coordination and no leadership.

    “Anyone who has visited Makurdi, the Benue State capital in the last seven months must have seen the potholes on all major roads in the town. Makurdi has become dusty, and even the street sweepers are no longer seen in the early hours of the day cleaning the city.

    “The worst situation is in the state ministries, departments and agencies of government. No activity goes on in any of the MDAs. Government House is not left out. According to those who have been there since June last year, the place stinks with no water running in the taps for flushing of toilets.

    “Alia says he is paying salaries of the workers and as far as he is concerned, that’s all that is needed. He doesn’t release overheads and other logistic support to the ministries and agencies for their operations. But the civil servants love it of course, because if they can sit at home all week and still receive their salaries at the end of the month, how is that bad? Productivity is relegated to the background.

    “Governor Alia operates like a parish priest who cannot be questioned. All that the people have to say is “Yes Father”. He gave them that response during the campaigns but they thought he was joking. Now they know better.

    “The man has elevated nepotism to heights never before seen in the history of Benue State. As a former priest, one would expect him to practice what he preached about unity and equality, but no, Alia is a preacher who would tell the people “do as I say, not as I do”.
    There is no tangible project to show since his administration came on board other than failed promises, lopsided appointments, and marginalisation.

    “Alia is sitting on huge money which has come in from Abuja. Benue State has received fat allocations but the Governor is silent on what has come in. As far as he pays the workers, his government is doing nothing else to develop the state.

    “No project is going on anywhere. He awarded contracts for the construction of 16 short streets of 15 kilometers and took out N9 billion for the projects but no construction is taking place on the roads.

    “Alia is not Prepared to govern Benue State. He came ill prepared and is acting exactly in that manner. His first seven months in office are the worst in the state since the return of democracy in 1999. The priest-turned-politician is the most lackluster of all the Benue governors in the last 25 years.

    “Governor Alia has failed to live up to expectations and instead of delivering on his campaign promises, he has taken up unnecessary battles against perceived critics, stakeholders, and his party members. His arrogance, ineptitude, pride, and all-knowing attitude have taken Benue State backward by over two decades.

    “The group of people who are worst hit and must be feeling ashamed are those who campaigned for him and mobilized voters in support of the Yes Father movement.

    “At first, many thought the governor was on a steep learning curve and the ship of the state would be righted and put on the course being an unfamiliar terrain for him. But unfortunately, Alia is not ready to learn or accept his mistakes.

    He explained that: “The governor has become so power-drunk that he is now inaccessible to the electorate, stakeholders, and even his party members. Shame! Effective governance is about feedback and criticism. No one knows it all.

    “Should we talk about his controversial contracts? According to Sahara Reporters, Alia spent whopping amounts in just four months in office awarding fictitious contracts. Between May 29 and September 30th, he was reported to have received and spent more than N46 billion of state resources, prominent among which was the duplication of contracts for the procurement of Hummer buses as palliative measures.

  • Gov Alia is an embodiment of dictatorship runs Benue like parish, APC Lawmakers cry out

    Gov Alia is an embodiment of dictatorship runs Benue like parish, APC Lawmakers cry out

    …ask Tinubu to call him to order

    Lawmakers elected into the National Assembly under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, came hard on the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, describing him as “a dictator” who is running the state government like his personal business.

    Rising from a one-day retreat organised in National Assembly on Thursday, the Lawmakers, under the aegis of Benue APC National Assembly Caucus, also called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to quickly prevail on the Governor, before he runs the state aground, saying, Alia’s tendencies could cost the party a defeat in subsequent elections in the state, if he is not quiuckly called to order.

    “We the undersigned are members of the National Assembly Caucus elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform from Benue State. Having watched with apprehension the absence of democratic leadership in Benue State in the last six (6) months exemplified by the arrogant and egocentric conduct of Governor Hyacinth I Alia, we have decided to draw the attention of Mr President and other leaders of APC in Nigeria to seek their immediate intervention before the fortunes of APC in Benue State are totally destroyed”, the text of press statement after the retreat, reads.

    Reading further, Leader of the Caucus and Senator representing Benue North West, Senator Titus Zam, said, the matter had been reported severally to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who has been mediating to see that things were normalised.

    “It is necessary to state from the onset that, we have collectively and individually drawn the attention of the leader of the APC in Benue, Sen. Dr. George Akume Secretary to the Government of the Federation who has on several occasions pleaded for patience from us in the anticipation of a possible change of attitude from His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia, rather than change for the better.

    “Governor Alia has become more emboldened and has continued to treat us and the party in general in the most disgusting, disrespectful and disingenuous manner”, he said.

    In retrospect, the APC Lawmakers said, “Fr. Alia only came to reap where he did not sow. In any case, you are well aware of the rejection his candidacy received from older members of the party including litigations in several courts of Law up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, it took the strident support of Sen. Dr. George Akume to extricate his candidacy from the destructive grip of his co-aspirants and eventual victory at the polls.

    “Today, the ungrateful Fr. Alia, who had barely joined APC two months before the Governorship primaries assumes a messianic posture and tend to appropriate the victory of APC in Benue State as a product of his so-called popularity; without regard to the painstaking and systematic efforts of the subsisting formidable political structure which has enthroned all the governors in the State before him.

    “The question begging for answers is; why did the self-acclaimed popular priest not contest on the platform of either APGA, PDP or other smaller political parties in Benue State?

    “For clarity’s sake, let us contextualize some of the dictatorial and egocentric tendencies of Governor Alia and his poor treatment of Benue APC in the last six (6) months of his administration in Benue State.

    “The election of the speaker of Benue House of Assembly. The position of the speaker was zoned to the Jembagh bloc of Benue North West Senatorial District, coincidentally the birthplace of the SGF, Sen. Dr. George Akume, whereas APC has 22 members out of a total of 32 members of the Assembly. Governor Alia connived with former Governor Gabriel Suswam of PDP to produce a speaker different from the candidate preferred by APC. In the contest for the position of the Speaker, Governor Alia held midnight meetings at the Residence of Sen. Gabriel Suswam and got Ten (10) PDP members to align with 7 recalcitrant APC members to beat the APC preferred candidate by the margin of 2 votes; thus began his unholy alliance with PDP to undermine and maltreat the legitimate members of APC in Benue State.

    “After the Speakership debacle, the party again nominated and made a spread of principal officers of the assembly, comprising; Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip. Surprisingly, the speaker joyfully agreed with the opposition party on all nominations from the Peoples Democratic Party as endorsed by the State Chairman of the PDP and Secretary but jettisoned the list submitted by APC and rather accepted the list that was unilaterally submitted by the Governor through his Chief of Staff.

    “It was an embarrassing experience for the Party having to face the dejection in the hands of an administration it labored hard to install. However, the party submitted and sustained their faith in the Governor and his government even when they felt aggrieved and resorted to stand by the advice of the leader of the party Sen. Dr. George Akume whose counsel has always been for the party to keep praying for Fr. Alia to succeed.

    “in the first meeting of the stakeholders that was held in government house the chairman of the party Comrade Austine Agada publicly went on his knees took all the blames even though there was no blame and apologized to the governor and party members requesting they put behind the State Assembly imbroglio and come together to save the party, in the meeting, the governor praised the leader of the party with promise to always work together so that Benue and the party will enjoy democratic dividends. He also pledged that going forward he was going to involve the party and other critical stakeholders in sensitive decisions particularly in the nomination of commissioners and local government caretaker committees, a promise he unfortunately kept in breach.

    “In appointing his commissioners, His Excellency again exercised a sole discretion without recourse to the normal tradition of requesting for nominations from the local governments and disregarded the zoning arrangements and permutations and went ahead to make his independent choices as he deemed soothing, again the party did not oppose him but rather gave him support since it was his own State Executive and Security Council and needed people he could vouch for.

    “The nomination of caretaker committees to man the various local governments was when the party received the most humiliation, governor Alia had thrown back to party members during the Stakeholders meeting by demanding an immediate nomination of 3 candidates each for the position of Caretaker Chairman, Deputy and Secretary as well Supervisory Councilors across the twenty three local government demanding for two slots of supervisory councilors from each of the local governments, this was first time a governor will demand such from the caretaker council formation against the usual one slot per local government. The party jubilantly agreed and followed the directive by holding meetings, and painstakingly submitting their various lists with the sigh of relief and sense of belonging.

    “But surprisingly, when the nominations were finally announced the party was amazed that ninety percent of the names were outside the nominees that were sent to the governor at his directive. In all these misgivings and disaffection the announcement of the caretaker committee marked the pinnacle of a noticeably bad relationship between governor Alia and APC in Benue State and this has angered a lot of party men and women in the State which can be justified by all standards.

    “Disrespect and disregard to members of NASS: Governor Hyacinth Alia since assumption of duty has not held any meeting with NASS members of Benue State who were elected on the same APC platform with him neither does he pick or return their telephone calls not to talk about consulting them on political matters in the State. He has assumed the posture of a conqueror who does not care about the welfare, nor status of National Assembly Members in his leadership of Benue State. In every State of the federation members of NASS are working in synergy with their governors to attract development from the center to their State of origin.

    “Governor Alia has no single known developmental blueprint for Benue State. As at the moment, nobody in Benue State is aware of the direction of his administration, what he practices is personal rule and this is replicated by the lopsided appointment he has made in the State so far, with his immediate community of Kunav cornering all the strategic positions in government.

    “Implications of his undemocratic rule in Benue State; the grave consequences of Governor Alia personal rule is that, the generality of APC members who are excluded and abandoned are beginning to lose faith in the APC led administration in Benue State. Therefore, care must be taken to safeguard APC from the tyrannical leadership of Governor Alia so as to prepare the party for subsequent electoral victories in the future. Governor Alia’s street showmanship of non-existent huge support base is not predicated on a substantive love of a massive street followers, does not translate to the real political support which only leaders can guarantee”.

    In addition, the Member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Agbese accused the Governor of nepotism, saying he appointed over 30 key political officers from his immediate clan in Vandeikya LGA, whereas, the Idoma speaking people from Benue South were grossly shortchanged in the scheme of things.

    The Lawmakers, comprising of Senators and House of Representatives Members elected under APC from Benue State, also used the occasion to pledge loyalty to President Tinubu, the National Chairman of APC, Umar Ganduje, Sen. Akume, the State Chairman of APC, Comrade Austine Agada and his state led executive.

  • I love APC and can never work against it – Alia

    I love APC and can never work against it – Alia

    Benue governor Hyacinth Alia says he has a special love for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and will never work against it.

    Alia’s vow is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Sunday.

    The Benue chapter of the APC recently accused the governor of neglecting the party, opting to work with opposition political parties.

    It also accused the governor of recruiting and funding a five-man committee to convey false information about the state’s chapter of the party, to the Presidency and the APC National Secretariat.

    But Alia, while debunking the claims, insisted that he had a special love for his party, especially the Benue chapter, and was working tirelessly to make the party proud.

    “A particularly absurd claim says there is a formation and funding of a committee headed by retired Gen. Lawrence Onoja and Mr Emmanuel Jime, supposedly tasked to misinform the Presidency and National Secretariat about the situation in Benue.

    “That committee is also expected to spread falsehoods against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    “As a governor, l am determined to fulfill my campaign promises to Benue people.

    “My continued funding of our party activities and expanding its stakeholders meetings in the state are eloquent testimonies of how I hold the party so dear to my heart.”

    The statement commended the Zonal Chairmen of the APC in Benue for their honesty in giving credit to the excellent performance of the governor, so far, and resolving to stand by him.

    “Since the party did not accuse the governor of underperformance or cited public dissatisfaction with his leadership style, it means that we are on the right track.

    “While we acknowledge the need to unite Benue and make it a better place for us and our children, we equally wish to submit that developing Benue  in all sectors is an imperative that sits boldly on the wish list of Alia.

    “Alia understands the importance of unity and teamwork in achieving the above. He has been making frantic efforts towards maintaining a cordial working relationship with the leadership of his party.”

    The governor explained that those recently sworn in as interim local government caretaker chairmen were among those nominated by the party.

    According to him, it is in his prerogative to subject suggested names to scrutiny as no sane governor will accept wholly, everything suggested to him hook, line and sinker.

    The governor described as “false,” the claim that he was planning to dump the party.

    “This unsubstantiated claim further exposes a desperate inclination on the part of the fabricators.

    “They keep cooking media statements from rumours, trivial gossips and their whimsical imaginations, rather than relying on concrete facts.”

  • Benue gov, Alia appoints board members, heads of govt. agencies, 12 aides

    Benue gov, Alia appoints board members, heads of govt. agencies, 12 aides

    Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia approved the appointment of 12 new aides, three board members, and four heads of parastatal agencies on Friday in Makurdi.

    His media aide, Mr Tersoo Kula stated that the governor charged the appointees to always put the state first in their official engagements.

    Those appointed were a director-general for the Bureau of Special Projects and Infrastructure and a manager of the state-owned Novus Microfinance Bank.

    The governor also appointed a director-general for the Bureau of Agricultural Development and a director-general for the Education Quality Assurance Agency.

    He appointed a chairman and members of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and those of the Muslim counterpart

    Gov. Alia also appointed a chairperson and members of the State Universal Basic Education Board and 12 aides attached to the offices of the deputy governor and his wife.