Politics
Benue APC leaders out to blackmail me — Gov Alia
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has described the recent statement by the three Zonal Vice Chairmen of the party in the state against him as groundless allegations aimed at blackmailing him.
Recall that the Zonal Vice Chairmen of the party in the state had accused the Governor of humiliating the party and alienating its leaders and stakeholders among others.
But reacting in a statement on his verified social media page, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, said “we have read claims made by the Benue APC Zonal Vice Chairmen, and despite our aversion to straightforwardly label these assertions, we find no more fitting euphemisms than to characterise them as an amalgamation of fabrications or groundless allegations directed and aimed at blackmailing the leader of the party in the state, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
“One such utter falsehood alleges that 80 percent of appointed caretaker chairmen were not part of the nominees sent to the Governor, suggesting opposition members took preponderance on the list. However, as we eagerly looked forward to seeing the evidence to this watery claim, there was none, giving it away as a mere figment of their imagination.
“Another fallacious claim holds that the widespread party dissatisfaction peaked with the Governor’s caretaker chairman announcement. That claim conveniently overlooks the fact that the Governor as the leader of the party in the state has the prerogative to subject suggested names to scrutiny.
“No sane Governor will accept wholly everything suggested to him hook, line and sinker. Sadly, it appears that the ‘party’ synonymizes suggestions with the Ten Commandments handed to Moses on Mount Sinai written on the two stone tablets.
“The three-man forerunner team further suggests that the Governor favours people outside the APC who allegedly worked against him during electioneering and voting phases. This appears more like petty resentments drawn from psychotic imagination, lacking any substantive basis.
“They also question the legitimacy of a meeting attended by notable party figures and statesmen like Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Sen. Ameh Ebute, Gen. Lawrence Onoja rtd, Navy Comdr Dan Ihinga rtd, Gen. India Garba rtd etc whom they derogatorily tagged ‘Emergency Stakeholders’ and hinted at a conspiratorial motive behind the meeting, insinuating a plot against the party. The irony of branding a seasoned politician in the class of Gemade with such a demeaning tag is truly enlightening.
“According to the three mature dancers of a proverbial drumming from the bush, their suspicion, they claim, was further fueled by the presence of Dr. Chile Igbawua, who is not an APC member. This unsubstantiated claim further exposes a desperate inclination on the part of the fabricators to link Rev. Fr. Alia with the opposition. They have also gone to town with the gleeful rumour that Gov. Alia has concluded plans to dump his party, the APC.
“They buried shame while constructing formal media statements from rumor mills, trivial gossip, and their whimsical imaginations, rather than relying on concrete facts.
“A particularly absurd claim says there is a formation and funding of a committee headed by Gen. Lawrence Onoja and Barr. Emmanuel Jime, supposedly tasked to perforate the Aso Villa and National Secretariat with a mandate to spread falsehoods against the party and the SGF.
“The desperation behind such fabrications raises concerns about the team’s motives. It is worth mentioning here that both party chieftains, specifically targeted as subjects of blackmail by the orchestrators, are people of impeccable reputation. They have diligently served both the party, the state, and the nation in various high-ranking capacities. It beguiles the imagination to fathom how these fabricators conjured the notion of reducing these distinguished party figures into mere errand henchmen for mischievous purposes.
“The narrative takes a shocking turn as the accusers declared the Benue APC’s staunch support for the Governor, insisting there’s no turning back. This claim contradicts the earlier narrative of discontent, further exposing the inconsistency in their fabricated stories.
“Lastly, the ‘party’ claims that the Governor has not made any financial contributions to the party, and they too have not asked him for money aside from the monthly dues, which they claim he has neglected to pay since assuming office. Wow! To cut short this discussion, we demand to speak with the books.
“It is unfortunate that amidst all this, the spinners of these fabrications might have at least made some sense had they expressed concerns about the governor’s performance or public dissatisfaction with his leadership style, perceiving potential repercussions for the party in future elections. However, what we read was an extensive narrative fixated on the elders and the party and shamelessly laced with falsehood in their desperate quest to discredit and blackmail Rev. Fr. Iormem Alia.
“While we acknowledge the consciousness in uniting Benue State and making it a better place for us and our children, we equally wish to submit that developing Benue State in all sectors is an imperative that sits boldly on the wish list of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“Governor Alia understands the importance of unity and teamwork in achieving the above. He has been making frantic efforts towards maintaining a cordial working relationship with the leadership of his party.
“His continued funding of party activities, presence and funding of the expanded stakeholders meetings of APC in the state is an eloquent testimony of how he holds the party so dear to his heart.”
The Labour Party has demanded immediate release of Dr Chigbo Okoli, Chairman, sub-Committee on Registration and Revalidation of its National Transition Committee (NTC).
Tha party made the demand in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the NTC, Mr Abdulwahed Omar and Mr Nnawuihe Nwauwa, respectively
In the statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the party officials said Okoli was arrested by persons suspected to be officers of the Nigeria Police Force and had been held incommunicado.
“On Tuesday, the 25th of June 2024, around 2pm, gun-wielding armed policemen swooped on Dr Okoli after he left the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Federal
Capital Territory Command.
“They arrested him in a gestapo manner, without informing him of the offence he was suspected to have committed. Neither was he allowed to contact his lawyer nor any family member,” they said.
The officials added that Okoli has been held incommunicado since the time of his arrest and neither charged to court nor released on administrative bail.
They described Okoli as “a peaceful and law-abiding citizen of Nigeria that has neither been arrested nor accused of committing a crime”.
“Every attempt by his family, Attorneys and associates to access him has been unsuccessful.
“This is in clear violation of his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and other statutes,” they said.
The party officials called on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, among other security agencies, to ensure the immediate and safe release of Okoli forthwith.
The Secretaries to the Government of APC-controlled states have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Progressive Governors for their outstanding leadership and governance.
In a communiqué issued after their quarterly meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, the Secretaries expressed their appreciation for the progress made under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
They acknowledged the positive impact of the Governors’ policies and investments, which have led to economic growth and stability.
The meeting focused on strategies to support the Governors in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda and finalising common policy frameworks in key governance areas.
The Secretaries reaffirmed their belief in the Agenda’s significance and praised the President and Governors for their exemplary leadership during this critical period in Nigeria’s history.
They pledged their unwavering support to the Progressive Governors in their mission to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all citizens.
Furthermore, the Secretaries praised the proactive measures taken by the Progressive Governors to ensure the security and well-being of all Nigerians.
As a result, they agreed to collaborate on establishing a framework for State Police to enhance security within the States.
The Secretaries to the Government of APC-controlled states have pledged their backing for a State Bill on Student Loans, aimed at boosting youth development and education in their respective states.
They also vowed to support the Progressive Governors in enhancing power supply across their states, acknowledging the crucial role of reliable electricity infrastructure in fostering job creation and economic growth.
Furthermore, the Secretaries encouraged all citizens to maintain their support for the leaders and actively engage in shaping a prosperous future for Nigeria.
By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
The controversies surrounding the leadership of the Action Alliance (AA) Party seems to have been brought to rest as a Federal high court sitting in Abuja dismissed the suit filed by some members of the Party challenging the Party’s National Convention held in Abeokuta which produced Adekunle Omo-Aje as the National Chairman of the Party.
Delivering his judgement, Justice James Omotosho, held that the officers produced by the National Convention are recognised officials of the Party.
According to him, the election was conducted in line with the Party’s constitution, saying the National Convention held at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, was supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC.)
Reacting to the judgement, the National Chairman of the Party, Hon. Adekunle Omo-Aje described it as an end to the controversies surrounding the leadership of the Party.
“This case that we won today was not initiated by Kenneth Udeze, it was Ukadike Chinedu and Amb. Abdulrasheed, the former National Secretary of the Party, and Esther Esevohare, the Former Women Leader. They are the ones who took me and my National Executives to this Court, about our National Convention.
“Today’s ruling according to him is a victory for the rule of law and our democracy. I commend the judiciary for its uprightness. I agree with the position of the Hon. Justice Omotosho that there should be an end to litigation.
“Indeed, the Nigerian system of justice is improving before our very eyes or generation. By the grace of God, Action Alliance will never fall into the hands of dishonest and untrustworthy leaders.
“I further commend the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Maitama during the pendency of this suit. Together, we can deepen democracy in Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that some members of the Action Alliance (AA) have sued Adekunle Omo-Aje, the party’s national chairman, over the conduct of the national convention.
The aggrieved members led by Ugochukwu Ogbuji, deputy national publicity secretary of the party, filed the suit before the federal high court in Abuja.
Ogbuji said the national convention ought not to have been conducted since the current tenure of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members was yet to expire.
“They went to Olusegun Obasanjo’s Library in Ogun State on October 7, 2023, and did what they called selective election without the consent of the National Working Committee (NWC) and NEC of the party,” he said.
“There was no meeting that was held that the NWC took a decision that we should have a national convention.”
Ogbuji alleged that some of those who attended the convention were not members of AA.
According to him, the plaintiffs did not bother to explore the internal mechanisms of the party to settle the dispute because Omo-Aje would not listen to advice.
The plaintiffs are praying for the court to set aside the convention which was held on October 7.
They also want the court to compel Omo-Aje to produce his senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE) certificate which is the minimum qualification required to be the national chairman of AA.
“We are now approaching the court that if such a person has the basic requirement, he should present it to the court,” he said.
“That is what makes him the national chairman. We are saying that the court should ask him to produce it.
“Let us know if he has it or not. For now, we have not seen it. Let him present it to the court.”
Other plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2023, include Amb. Suleiman Abdulrasheed the former National secretary Esther Esevohare, the former national women leader; Deborah Banjo, former national treasurer; Samuel Oboro, former financial secretary; Mike Madu, former national youth leader; Chinedu Ukadike, an ex-officio of Southeast; Sunday John-Bull, the ex-officio of south-south, and Isa Haladu.
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