The Benue state National Assembly caucus has called for the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
The caucus, led by Senator Titus Zam made the call during a press briefing at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The lawmakers who attended the briefing were Emmanuel Udende, the Senator representing Benue North-east; members of the House of Representatives Dickson Tarkighir, Makurdi/Guma Federal; Philip Agbese, Ado/Ogbadibo, Okpoku; Terseer Ugbor, Kwande/Ushongo; Austin Achado, Gwer-East/Gwer-West; Sekav Iyortyom, Buruku and Sesoo Ikpagher, Konshisha/ Vandeikya.
” 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 1 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.
” 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,” Senator Zam said.
The group said that several attempts had been made to talk to the governor but to no avail.
They also accused the governor of high handedness in handling the affairs of the state.
” 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 list with the sigh of relieve and sense of belonging.
” But surprisingly, when the nominations where 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
” 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 centre to their State of origin,” he said.
Senator Zam also said that Governor Alia has no single known developmental blue print 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”.
They pledge their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Party Chairman, Umar Ganduje, Sen. Dr. George Akume the SGF, the State Chairman of APC, Comrade Austine Agada and his Exco.
The Deputy Chairman of the House committee on Media, Hon. Philip Agbese, in his submission, said that the governor has refused to listen to the voice of reasoning.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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