The face-off between the Benue State Governor and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has escalated with members of the National Assembly from the state in proxy battle
The Benue Caucus of the National Assembly has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the crises within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State allegedly fueled by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The lawmakers from both chambers who are of the APC accused the governor of high-handedness and egocentrism, which they claim, is gradually destroying the party structure in the state.
The accusations were made during a news conference recently in Abuja.
Leader of the caucus, Sen. Titus Zam (APC, Benue), who spoke on behalf of the caucus they have watched with dismay the escalation of the political crisis in the state.
According to Zam, “having watched with apprehension the absence of democratic leadership in Benue State in the last six 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 in APC in Nigeria to seek their immediate intervention before the fortunes of APC in Benue State are totally destroyed.
“For clarity, let us contextualise some of the dictatorial and egocentric tendencies of Governor Alia and his poor treatment of Benue APC in the last six months of his administration in Benue State.
“We members have collectively and individually drawn the attention of the leader of the APC in Benue, Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the impasse created by Alia. Akume had on several occasions pleaded for patience from members in the anticipation of a possible change of attitude from Alia.”
He however said that, “rather than change for the better, the governor had become more emboldened and had continued to treat the lawmakers and the party in the most disrespectful manner.”
He said 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. They also accused the Governor of not picking or return their telephone calls and not to talk about consulting them on political matters in the State.
“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.
“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.”
The lawmakers who took turns to express their displeasure over the attitude of the governor which they said is greatly affecting their constituents’ trust in the party.
According to Rep. Terseer Ugbor, “I want to state categorically that I totally align myself with everything that has been said by our chairman. I have made several efforts to seek audience with the governor but to no success except on very rare occasions. Atimes when you call him, he will link you up with his aides to speak to you. We can not continue like this.”
Another lawmaker, Rep. Philip Agbese said, “the implication is the generality of APC members who being excluded and abandoned were beginning to lose faith in the APC led administration in Benue State.
“My people (the Idoma’s) who voted for the governor have completely been maginalised by the governor who engages in skewed appointments. Most of the appointments in strategic ministries are done are persons from his State constituency Kayan”
Recall that Rep. Agbese a week ago was seen in a video that went viral directing his aides to take down the portrait of Governor Alia from his office.
Members of the caucus at the press conference included: Sen. Emmanuel Udende, Reps. Sesoo Ikpagher, Tarkighir Dickson, Austin Asema Achado, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom, and Solomon Wombo. Reps. Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President, David Mark, and Regina Akume, wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, were conspicuously absent.
15 comments
Donald Shough
December 29, 2023 at 8:01 am
I think something is fundamentally wrong with senator Titus zam. This man needs to be taken to a psychiatric hospital. Who is Mr zam Titus fighting for In benue state? The very man he fighting is the same man that brought him to limelight. Someone should help me tell Titus zam that Benue people, tiv people In particular don’t know him. He is of his own. Leave our governor alone we are not complaining about his performance in the state. I demand as a good reprentative of the people as you are claiming to be, come out and tell us one single thing you have achieved for your constituency for the past seven months you have been representing them.
Godwin Iornenge
December 29, 2023 at 9:31 am
It is disheartening that people who called themselves honourable members are behaving this way. The governor is answerable to State house of assembly members and not stomach infrastructure APC members in NASS. The governor is the governor of Benue state and not of any political party. The era of sharing the state money to few people is gone. Tell us what you have done with constituency allowance you people collected for six months. Before, Benue state capital Makurdi, was like a public toilet, but go there now and see clean and neat state capital with well constructed drainage paths and Street lights. The governor revives Benue links company, he paysWAEC and NECO registration fees of final year students, he is paying two months salary every month in order to finish the arrears of about thirteen months salary and pensioners are now laughing in Benue state. What else do you expect from a governor? Senator Titus Zam who is the leader of the caucus, if not because of the popularity of governor Alia, he wouldn’t have defeated former governor Orton. Even senator Emmanuel Udende , would he have defeated former senator Gabriel Suswam? May God keeps all of us till next election. I humbly request that Punch newspaper should go to Benue state and see great development that is taking place in that state. It is time for their godfather to cover his face in shame. They are calling for Mr president’s intervention but at the same time insulting Mr president. The honourable minister of Humanitarian Affairs recently kick off the building of houses in order to return people in IDP camps but they said there is no federal government project in the state and they don’t know what the governor is doing for IDPS in Benue state. Is this not insult on the person of Mr president of the federal Republic of Nigeria? How many bills have they sponsored in order to attract federal government projects in their constituencies? Their people are drinking water from ponds and rivers. They don’t have hospitals. No roads. Youth in their constituencies don’t have jobs. They should sit down and examine themselves. They are old enough to take decision on their own. In Benue we vote people not political party. Who is good? Suswam was not good, Ortom was a devil now Alia is not good as well according to them. Please let them go round Benue state and do the same retreat in their various constituencies.
Johnny
December 29, 2023 at 8:22 pm
You have said it all man. No food for them to share- the reason for the ranting.
Akor Jor Matthew
December 30, 2023 at 1:32 pm
You have spoken the minds of all the BENUE People. Zam must come back. For it is lucid that he is an anti development. The era for round table politics in BENUE is gone!
Michael Abende
December 29, 2023 at 3:38 pm
They have not told the public what is really their headache with the Benue state governor, because the man is doing well so far, the masses are happy
Except for the fact that he refused sharing the money that belongs to the masses on a round table with them, that’s all
Nis
December 29, 2023 at 6:42 pm
What have they done for their constituencies since they went to national assembly that they are looking for faults from the governor?
Princeton Terna Mngerem
December 29, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Let these face thier businesses at Abuja. They cannot face their mates from the different parts of the country and lobby for development for Benue State.
We do not want any local champions at home again. If they have muscles let them flex with their Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo, and others the national level.
Shameless group of people.
Leave Father alone to do his work.
Ability Faga
December 29, 2023 at 7:48 pm
You can imagine how they are disgracing disgracing thereself publicly. Can they point out one single project executed in the last six months, what have they been doing with the constituency allocation given to them. People masses are happy with the performances of their Governor we are not complaining our problem is National Assembly members
Johnny
December 29, 2023 at 8:27 pm
These are the kind of Reps destroying their states. I have not been to Makurdi for some years, but I learnt the current governor is working. He should also extend his work to rural areas. Ochobo- Agadagba-Awume-Onyagede in Ohimini LGC have no good roads and bridges.
Charles
December 29, 2023 at 8:55 pm
I think these few sycophants are beginning to get on our nerves we the Benue people will not sit and watch them insult our God giving governor if by the end of this January these sycos did not tender an apology to the people of Benue we will start initiating the process of calling them back
Moses manger
December 30, 2023 at 6:51 am
Benue people are very excited with there God giving Governor, will don’t have any issues with our Governor he is doing well so far, Nass client to be good, people like Emmanuel Udende , people of his constituencies are crying day in day out hopping he will come for intervene and he is doing nothing so let them mind there business and lives our Governor alone.I said and I will said it again.
Alexander
December 30, 2023 at 7:47 am
Zam is useless man the don’t have any thing to offer their community they think governor will divide the money that is meant for development of the state seamless set of peoples that only thinking of how to carry peoples wife to hotel and be drinking
B.Athe
December 30, 2023 at 10:08 am
Im an American visiting Benue State. I am truly shocked at the conditions of the road to arrive in Makurdi and Gboko! It is unsafe and literally undriveable! Where are the major shops? Where are the opportunities for business? Surely Makurdi can host a SPAR supermarket or KFC how about Chicken Republic or Dominos pizza. ! Where are the major cooperations to invest. These NASS gentlemen need to stop crying and complaining that Governor doesnt talk or meet with us@ Well maybe they shold get together and prezent some postive plans for Benue State improvement and growth and maybe they would get a meeting with him. Why should he talk with you if you not bringing anything to the table!
Irene
January 4, 2024 at 1:48 pm
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Nguasho Peter
December 30, 2023 at 4:31 pm
I Honourably I want to advance the good people of Benue state National Assembly members /Senate members, You people are making a very great mistake Governor have powers whether he use it positively or negatively, this is his time ++++ !!! !!!! All of you should recall that u are representing the Good people of Benue state, so your problems shall be:
* what, where, are the mineral resources in my locality that federal government can develop?.
* What are constituency projects that I will execute,to support in my locality ?
I went to University of Agriculture Makurdi, up till now my brothers/sisters are still drinking hard water,Spring water, this is where the immediate past Govr, just left the seat, currently Tarkighir Dickson, Senator Titus Zam who is the leader of the caucus, if not because of the popularity of governor Alia, he would not known where Abuja is.
* Some of you that u accidentally emerged those site under the God call for our Governor should be very careful; Sen. Emmanuel Udende, Reps. Sesoo Ikpagher, Tarkighir Dickson, Austin Asema Achado, Sekav Dzua Iyortyom, and Solomon Wombo. Reps. Blessing Onuh, daughter of former Senate President, David Mark, and Regina Akume
Be mindful that we in Benue state too there are house of assembly members, in Makurdi here. I whether why you people can not behave very mature like your other colleagues in some various states? . I want to appreciates all your Tireless efforts in making sure that RT. DR. Fada. Alia Orherati is now doing well in this States for the good people of Benue state. Thanks