‘He practises personal rule’ — Benue APC lawmakers ask Tinubu to call Alia to order

The Benue lawmakers in the national assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused Hyacinth Alia, governor of the state, of “dictatorship”.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north-west, said the governor is displaying “poor leadership” in handling the affairs of the party in the state.

Zam called on President Bola Tinubu to call  Alia to order, adding that “care must be taken to safeguard APC from the tyrannical leadership of governor”.

The APC in Benue has been embroiled in an internal wrangling amid the cold war between Alia, and George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

He said democratic leadership has been absent in Benue since Alia assumed office, adding that his style has been “exemplified by arrogant and egocentric conduct”.

The lawmaker said despite several requests urging the governor to change for the better, he has instead “become more emboldened and has continued to treat us and the party in general in the most disgusting disrespectful and disingenuous manner”.

Detailing the genesis of the crisis, Zam said Alia “does not regard the party and local government in making decisions”.

“The nomination of caretaker committees to man the various local governments was when the party received the most humiliation,” he said.

“Governor Alia had thrown to party members during the stakeholders meeting by demanding an immediate nomination of three candidates each for the position of caretaker chairman, deputy and secretary as well supervisory councillors across the 23 local government, demanding for two slots of supervisory councillors from each of the local governments. 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 list with a sigh of relief and a sense of belonging.

“But surprisingly, when the nominations were finally announced, the party was amazed that 90 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 TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’

The lawmakers said Alia has not held any meeting with the national assembly members from Benue elected on the APC platform since he became governor.

“Neither does he pick up 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,” Zam said.

“In every state of the federation members of national assembly are working in synergy with their governors to attract development from the centre to their state of origin.

“Govenor Alia has no single known developmental blueprint for Benue state. 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 said the governor’s actions are “undemocratic” and have “grave consequences” for the people.

“Therefore, care must be taken to safeguard APC from the tyrannical leadership of governor Alia to prepare the party for subsequent electoral victories in the future.”

Lawmakers who attended the briefing included Emmanuel Udende (north-east senatorial district), Dickson Tarkighir (Makurdi/Guma federal constituency), Philip Agbese (Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpoku federal constituency), Terseer Ugbor (Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency), Austin Achado (Gwer-east/Gwer-west federal constituency), Sekav Iyortyom (Buruku federal constituency) and Sesoo Ikpagher (Konshisha/ Vandeikya federal constituency).