By Amos Aar
HON. Elias Audu, member representing Gwer East Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, has condemned the heckling of Hon. Asema Achado, House of Representatives member for Gwer/Gwer West at the burial of Prof. J. T. Kpamor Orkar in Apir, Makurdi LGA.
Hon. Audu therefore called for respect and civility in political and public engagements after an incident in which Hon. Achado was heckled by youths said to be members of Governor Alia support group, ‘No Alia, No Benue’.
Members of the group booed Achado and attempted to seize the microphone as he spoke. The confrontation arose when Achado allegedly offered to provide jobs for ten members of the group, implying that employment opportunities could deter them from disruptive acts such as microphone snatching at events.
According to viral video clips from the event circulating in the social media, before Achado took the stage to speak on behalf of the National Assembly, the Master of Ceremony (MC), Desmond Atov Shagbaor, and his co-MC, made an announcement that was seemingly lighthearted but controversial.
They remarked that if speakers continued to prolong their remarks, the ‘No Alia, No Benue’ youths would be assigned to snatch microphones from anyone exceeding one minute on the podium.
“First of all, let me react to what the MC said about those my brothers who are well-dressed in red and yellow. He said they should snatch microphones from people. But instead of snatching microphones, I want to task the MC to write down ten names of these youths and provide me with their CVs. Before the end of this year, we will give them jobs at the national level so that they will be useful to themselves and their families.”
However, the youths reacted angrily, asking: “Is it today that you will give us jobs at the national level?” The situation escalated, and after Achado left the stage, members of the ‘No Alia, No Benue’ and ‘The Alia the Better’ groups began singing solidarity and victory songs in support of Governor Alia.
In response to the incident, Hon. Elias Audu, who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Orientation as well as Lands and Survey in the state Assembly, criticised the actions of the youths.
He emphasised the importance of unity and mutual respect between political leaders and their constituents. Audu also called on the Benue State House of Assembly to denounce all forms of hooliganism and thuggery, warning that “violence is like burning fire, and it spares no one.”
Despite the disruption, Achado used the opportunity to share updates on security improvements in the area — an announcement that some critics viewed as political opportunism at a solemn event.
He revealed that contracts had been awarded for the construction of police outposts in Taraku and Ullam, Gwer East LGA, with work set to begin immediately.
According to Achado, the contractor had already arrived in Benue, marking a significant step towards enhancing security and safety in the constituency.
He assured constituents of his commitment to overseeing the project’s timely completion and quality assurance.
He also expressed gratitude to the federal government for approving the initiative and thanked the contractor for their swift response.
Meanwhile, Achado’s heckling has stoked a political controversy, with some accusing Governor Alia of orchestrating the harassment, given that Achado belongs to the faction of the APC aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The Organising Secretary and Acting Publicity Secretary of the APC in Alia’s camp, Mr. James Ornguga, defended the governor, denied any premeditation.
In a statement entitled; “The Apir Burial Tale: Benue PDP Becoming a Nosy Blabbermouth,” Ornguga presented his account of the incident:
“Hon. Arc. Austin Asema Achado threw an open challenge to a group of youth supporters loyal to the governor, cautioning them not to be used as ‘microphone snatchers’ at occasions and promising job offers to ten members of the group.
“The youths, who presumably felt mocked by the unsolicited job offer, reacted angrily, booing Hon. Achado and advancing towards the podium despite efforts to calm them down. As a result, the Benue National Assembly representative had to abandon his speech midway.
“Above all, Governor Hyacinth Alia, in his address at the same event, cautioned the group not to react with that quantum of anger, no matter how offended they might feel.”
The fallout from the burial incident has further fuelled political discourse in Benue State. It follows a recent controversy surrounding a speech by Senator George Akume at the burial of Wantaregh Paul Iorpuu Unongo in Kwande LGA, which also sparked significant political tension.
