By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disapproved of a meeting of the party called by the ward chairman of Ningev council ward at the instance of Ter U Kuna to be held on Wednesday at Vandeikya township, the hometown of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
According to a statement by the APC’s state spokesman, Comrade Dan Morgan, top on the list of the agenda is the suspension of the chairman of the APC of Vandeikya LGA, Hon. Simeon Yongo.
Morgan said the State Working Committee (SWC) had during its recent congress instructed against unauthorised meetings of the party at all levels, adding that “meetings of polling unit committee and meetings at the ward level must be authorised and approved by the local government chairmen respectively.”
He cautioned traditional rulers against delving into political issues and adhere to their primary responsibility of maintaining communal peace so as to sustain their dignity and respect.
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“We wish to state that all organs of the party should revert to our previous instructions on the subject of holding unauthorized meetings as conveyed in our previous official statements pursuant to the party’s constitution, meetings of polling unit committee and meetings at the ward level must be authorized and approved by the local government Chairmen respectively.
“Whilst our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, reserves enormous respect for traditional rulers and commend their strenuous roles in nation building, we wish to state that matters of political party administration must be left for those who hold the responsibility of its leadership and we would advise that traditional rulers stick to their responsibility in maintaining communal peace.
“Party leadership in the state at various organs must attentively note that matters bothering on indiscipline and misconduct of office must be reported in writing to the Zonal Chairmen of their various zones who would onward forward to the State Working Committee and be critically looked into by the State Disciplinary Committee of the party, issuing of suspensions in aberration of this process amounts to insubordination.
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“The All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue State wishes to reiterate its stand on respect for party leadership and condemn in decisive terms the actions of those constituting illegal party meetings as decisions arrived at such functions will be deemed null and void”, the statement reads in part.
National Record had reported how APC local government chairpersons had kicked against the constitution of caretaker committees for the 23 local government councils of the state last week by Governor Hyacinth Alia, alleging that those appointed were unilaterally chosen by the governor.
The APC local government chairpersons alleged that after they had been asked to submit list of nominees from their respective councils, the governor trashed their nominations and instead handpicked others without due consideration to zoning protocols that guide such political appointments.
The controversy deepened when Governor Alia inaugurated caretaker committees following the approval of the Benue State House of Assembly the caretaker committees even as the suspended elected local government chairpersons were alleged to have taken the matter to court praying that their suspension was illegal and that they be allowed to complete their tenure.
Governor Alia performed the swearing in ceremony in the wee hours of Tuesday at Government House, Makurdi.
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National Record gathered from reliable sources that the swearing in ceremony, which started at about 11pm on Monday, ended around 3am on Wednesday.
The governor had reportedly charged the chairmen to be guided by the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability at all times and also rise above limitations, break barriers and bring about positive change in the state.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated chairmen, the caretaker chairperson for Konshisha LGA, Hon. Philip Achua, reportedly thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointments as caretaker chairpersons.
Achua pledged that they would work diligently in line with the seven-point agenda of the government and also replicate his good style of governance in their various local government areas.
Those inaugurated include Onazi Agbese Charles (Ado); Ochayi Alidu (Apa); Agber Iorkyaan (Buruku); Agber Tavershima Abraham (Gboko); Simon Unongo (Guma), and Agbo Comfort (Gwer).
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Others are Henry Agba (Gwer-West); Francis Zanzan (Katsina-Ala); Philip Achua (Konshisha); Mark Teryila Hule (Kwande); Jonathan Iorliam Adagbe (Logo); and James Dwem (Makurdi); Okoh Joseph (Ogbadibo); Samson Okoh (Ohimini); Onyilo Douglas Omale (Okpokwu); Alfred Oketa Omakwu (Otukpo); Roy Terna Ashirga (Tarka); Alex Avakaa (Ushongo), and Haanongon Gideon (Ukum).
Group backs Alia
Meanwhile, a group known as Benue Concerned APC Stakeholders, in apparent opposition to the APC local government chairmen and the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party passed a vote of confidence on Governor Alia in the ongoing crisis rocking the party.
The concerned stakeholders made their position known in a communiqué issued after a closed-door meeting co-chaired by former Senate President, Chief Ameh Ebute, Senator Barnabas Gemade, General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) and Senator Joseph Akaagerger at Government House, Makurdi on Monday.
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Leader of the group, Chief Ebute, who read the communiqué, encouraged Governor Alia to ignore all distractions and focus his attention on developing the state.
He said the APC leaders are not in support of the actions of the local government party chairmen and the party executive committee, particularly for their inability to explore all necessary avenues for proper engagements before resorting to unnecessary media outings which further escalated what would have easily been managed internally by the party.
The communiqué reads in part: “We the concerned stakeholders of APC in Benue State are worried by the recent attacks on the Governor and Government of Benue State, particularly, the content of the communiqué we saw on social media under the hands of the APC LG chairmen, as well as the resolution of the state working committee, in respect to leadership, meeting and party activities. We see this as a deliberate attempt to distract the Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia led administration from fulfilling his campaign promises to the people. This unfortunate incident by the APC LG Chairmen has opened a vista for the opposition to take full advantage, culminating in a recent motion sponsored by an opposition (PDP) senator from Benue against the government of Benue state.
“We are clearly not in support of the actions of the Local Government party chairmen and the party executive committee, particularly for their inability to explore all necessary avenues for proper engagements before resorting to unnecessary media outings that have further escalated what would have easily been managed internally by the party
“We also acknowledge that at several meetings and other fora, elders of the party as well as the executives of the party had cause to pass a vote of confidence on the Governor of Benue state and applauded his inclusive leadership style.
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“It is on the basis of these and many more that we the concerned elders have found it necessary to address the public and ask all concerned party members to desist from further public outings and stop any impending action that will further cause disunity in the party.
“The party chairmen and state executive committee are by this communiqué requested to desist from further actions and retreat to allow elders and major stakeholders to wade into the matter and seek appropriate answers to all issues.
“Moreover, we wish to advise the Governor to discountenance all distractions and continue his focus on developing the state with the diligence so far employed.
“We wish to thank the entire Benue APC family and also assure His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of our continuous support.”
Fielding questions from journalists, Senator Gemade urged members of the public to disregard social media writers who he said churned to the publish falsehoods against personalities.
When asked to confirm some issues trending on social media about the crisis, Chief Gemade said: “You want me to comment on social media matters and that is extraneous because there’s so much deceit in that angle of media.
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“I was quoted as one of those who attended the zoom meeting with the governor to conclude plans with the national secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party to move there. How can there be an opposition senator moving a motion against actions of the governor and on the same day, the governor is meeting with the opposition party in making preparations to move there? “All these things should not be taken serious. I think we should just discountenance every single thing that social media is doing. Those boys unfortunately are earning a living and sometimes not in a very straightforward manner. We should pardon them but at the same time not accept what they are trying to do because they are trying to deceive us.”
