Killings: Gov Alia is ‘Liar, ‘Irresponsible,’ Benue NASS Caucus Confront Gov
The Benue State Caucus in the National Assembly has condemned that allegation levelled against them by Governor Hyacinth Alia over the increasing violent attacks by armed herdsmen in the state.
The caucus in a statement issued at the National Assembly on Thursday demanded public apology the North Central governor. Denying the allegations of the governor, the caucus in their statement stated that, “Members of the Caucus of the National Assembly from Benue State therefore, unequivocally and without any fear of contradiction deny the allegation that they are sponsoring Fulani militia to attack and kill their people.”
The lawmakers decried the inconsistency of governor Alia whom they described as a “liar” and “irresponsible” leader. They accused Governor Alia of playing with the lives of the people of the state for constantly denying the ubiquities killings in the state, despite the excruciating the killer herdsmen have brought upon the people of Benue State.
Calling on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbedokun to carry out a thorogh investigation of the allegations of the governor, they demanded “That the Governor should retract his words and apologize publicly to members of the Benue Caucus of the National Assembly.”
The full statement reads:
The Benue State Caucus of the National Assembly saw with consternation Governor Alla’s umbrage on the National Assembly members from Benue State on the security challenges confronting the state. Ordinarily, we had dismissed the rantings of the Governor as true to the character of a failed Governor. In the past, Governor Alia had characterized Benue National Assembly members as “bokoti” people which literally translates to “useless people,” when the National Assembly members raised serious concerns about the incapacity of the Governor to frontally confront insecurity in Benue State that had rendered several Benue Indigenes dead, injured many, destroyed properties worth billions of naira, disabled the people from farming and engaging in productive businesses.
When Senators Emmanuel Udende and Abba Moro raised motions on the insecurity in Benue State, Governor Alia asserted that they were misleading the Senate and Nigerians on the security situation in Benue State. Similarly, the Governor has blatantly refused to implement the Open Grazing Prohibition Law enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly even when the Senate resolution to a bill sponsored by Senator Titus Zam directed him to implement the Open Grazing Prohibition Law of Benue State. Unfortunately, in a church service in Ikpayongo, Benue State, earlier this year, Governor Alla stated that there had been no killings in Benue State since he assumed office as Governor in May 2023. When some citizens were killed in Bonta in Konshisha LGA and Ukpute in Oju LGA, Governor Alia characterized the happenings as mere “skirmishes.” Yet Governor Alia in one of his irresponsible outings on national television, uncharitably accused members of the National Assembly from Benue State as sponsors and masterminds of the killings in Benue State. Never in the history of Benue State has a Governor been known to speak from both sides of his mouth on issues, especially that concern the lives and property of the Benue people. In one breath Governor Alia would allege that attacks against Benue communities are about land grabbing by the invaders, in another, the Governor will defend the attackers as foreigners protected by ECOWAS protocols to traverse ECOWAS member nations freely.
Members of the Caucus of the National Assembly from Benue State therefore, unequivocally and without any fear of contradiction deny the allegation that they are sponsoring Fulani militia to attack and kill their people.
Collectively and/or individually, members of the National Assembly have contributed Immensely to the solution of the current situation and challenges bedevilling Benue State. No week passes by that members are not in their constituencies to bury, and or commiserate with their constituents who have lost their lives or loved ones, while the Governor continues to stay in the comfort of Government House Makurdi until recently a whimper of condemnation of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The Governor has not sufficiently demonstrated empathy for people killed allegedly by armed herdsmen. In some instances, as in the incident in Otukpo, the governor would rather condemn youths protesting the killing of their kith and kin than those responsible for the killing and sustained attacks on the armless and defenceless citizens of Benue State.
In a characteristic demonstration of irresponsibility and show of lack of understanding of governance, and for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a governor in the full glare of national television would accuse his people of killing their own people. What a sad and pathetic show of politics taken too far. What a shame that a governor would call his own members of the National Assembly from his state as “members of Shenanigans” whatever that means.
In other states with similar experiences like Borno and Plateau states, Governors would acknowledge the plight of their people and appeal to the Federal Government for Intervention but not in Alla’s Benue State apparently buttressing the allegations that Governor Alla was compromised in the run up to the 2023 election.
In consequence of the above, the Caucus of the National Assembly demands as follows:
- That the Governor should retract his words and apologize publicly to members of the Benue Caucus of the National Assembly.
- That the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of urgency investigate members of the Caucus of the National Assembly and report to the Benue and Nigerian people and
- Urge the Governor as a matter of urgency to settle down for real governance, stop the blame games and to also stop moving with non-state actors to intimidate political opponents.