- They implored President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to quickly prevail on the Governor, before he runs the state aground.
The National Assembly caucus from Benue State, under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, says the way Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia manages the affairs of the State could spell doom for the party.
They said the governor’s action reeks of dictatorship, adding that the State was being of run like a parish.
The lawmakers expressed their concern and hard feelings at a press briefing in Abuja.
They implored President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to quickly prevail on the Governor, before he runs the state aground.
The text of the press conference was read by the leader of the caucus and Senator representing Benue North West, Senator Titus Zam.
He disclosed that 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.
“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 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 caucus said.
They further disclosed that “from the onset, 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.
“For clarity’s sake, let us contextualise 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.
“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 apologised 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 a 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 from governor Alia. During the stakeholders’ meeting, he demanded an immediate nomination of three candidates each for the position of Caretaker Chairman, Deputy and Secretary, as well as two slots of supervisory councillors from each of the local government areas.
“This was the first time a governor would 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 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 from Benue State who were elected on the same APC platform with him, neither does he pick nor 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.
“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 practises 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’s 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 does not translate to the real political support which only leaders can guarantee,” the caucus further stated.