By Amos Aar
BENUE State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has banned all types of political meeting/gathering in the state indefinitely for alleged security reasons.
In a memo dated February 27, 2024 addressed to the state commissioner of police, notifying him to enforce the ban, Governor Alia, through his chief of staff, Paul Biam, claimed the directive became necessary as a result of volatile security situation in the state occasioned by the influx of armed herdsmen.
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The memo, entitled: “Notification For Ban Of All Political Meeting/Gathering” reads:
“1. I write to inform you that His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has banned all political gatherings in any form, be it inter or intra party or groups in Benue state till further notice.
2. This has become necessary following intelligence on the volatility of the security atmosphere in the state.
3. It is certainly not news to you how the security atmosphere in the state is charged following the unprecedented influx of armed herdsmen in the state.
“3. You are by this notification directed to enforce this directive.
“Accept the assurances and best regards from the Governor of Benue State.”
Meanwhile factional state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Comrade Austin Agada, who leads the faction of the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Sen. George Akume, has invited all categories of people to a post-inaugural meeting with the Executive Director, Housing, Finance and Accounts, Dr Mathias Terwase Byuan, scheduled to hold on Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Umar Ganduje Congress Hall of the Benue APC Secretariat (Tinubu House), Makurdi at 10:00am.
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National Record gathered from sources within the APC that the Alia faction has issued the order to ban political meetings so as to prevent Akume’s faction from holding the Friday meeting to receive Mathias Byuan whose appointment he said was facilitated by the SGF.
One of the sources told National Record that it was a plot to deny Austin Agada recognition as APC state chairman.
“What I know is that Governor Alia and his group recognise Benjamin Omakolo as the acting chairman of our party while Akume and his group recognise Agada as chairman. That is why they don’t want the meeting to hold at Agada’s instance,” the source said.
