By Amos Aar
THE Benue State Government has dissociated itself from the Al-Tershak Global Security Limited set up by an alleged ex-Boko Haram member, Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku, which was commissioned last Saturday June 4, 2023, in Makurdi.
National Record had reported on Monday that Benue State Deputy Governor, Same Ode, represented by his Chief Protocol Officer, Mr Gabriel Igoche, commissioned the security outfit in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
The publication of the inauguration of the private security outfit steered popular concern with the Benue public raising alarm in various social media platforms, where many claimed that it was fake news they believed that Governor Hyacinth Alia would not associate with the owner of the security outfit alleged to have links with Boko Haram in the past.
Following the concerns, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Tersoo Kula, in a statement on Wednesday disclaimed that neither the governor nor his deputy mandated Mr Igoche to commission the Benue office of Al-Tershak Global Security Limited.
National Record could recall that at the commissioning of the security outfit, Mr Igoche had introduced himself as the Chief Protocol Officer to the Deputy Governor, Sam Ode, noting that his boss had travelled to Abuja to felicitate with Sen. George Akume on his new appointment as Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), hence he had delegated him to perform the inauguration ceremony on his behalf.
Igoche’s brief remark reads: “I am standing here on behalf of His Excellency, Hon. Barrister Sam Ode, the Deputy Governor of Benue State. He would have been here but for very, very exigencies of duty, he has to move out of the state.
“When Alhaji came yesterday to see him, I made a way for them to meet. And shortly after, he called me and said peace is very, very important for the state and security is Jermaine.
“For that reason, he would have loved to ask Alhaji to shift the date but due to the impromptu nature of that invitation, he cannot put it up and he has to attend to state matters.
“We all know the joy in the state for the appointment of our dear father, an elder statesman in the state, a former governor, a distinguished son of Benue, in person of Senator George Akume, who has been appointed the SGF. My boss has to rush over there to felicitate with him along with other indigenes that are going to be there. So, it’s the reason why he is not here.
“But I don’t have much speech for this day; he just asked me to represent him and because of the desperation for peace in the land, he said that Al-Tershak has kicked the ball and we all have to follow. And for other security agencies that are already on ground, they have to gear up towards this peace and that’s why we are here today. So, we are wishing him success in this operation.
“and in the operation, like the Bishop said earlier, you ensure you profile your men very well so that the Judas can be ejected out of them and that will give us a very tact security outfit and peace in the land.
“I will not say much at this point, I will thank…who has deemed it very, very important and very necessary to be here to witness this and to pray for you.
“Thank you and God bless you all”, Igoche said.
When he proceeded to cut cake to mark the commissioning of the security outfit, Mr Igoche, who was flanked by the Tor Lobi, HRH Moses Anagende, represented by HRH Simon Ajoh, AIG Zone 4 Police Headquarters, Makurdi, Mr R. M. Haladu, represented by the PPRO of the zone, Mr D. A. Kaavanger, Mue Ter Nongov, HRH Gideon Tiev, among others said: “I’m here representing the Deputy Governor of Benue State. I have my fathers here and very elder statesmen who are supposed to do this but because of the designation of office, I’m here in representative capacity and the AIG is here in representative capacity. This afternoon, we are going to commission this edifice for the benefit of the society, the state and Nigeria at large in the name of God Almighty.”
Governor’s Alia’s Disclaimer
In his statement dissociating the state government, Governor Alia described a follow-up news story (not National Record’s) of the commissioning of the security outfit as a “malicious news story”, adding that they read the report that the governor had approved a certain security outfit of Fulanis in Benue State.
The statement, signed by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, dated 7th June, 2023, and entitled: “Re-Outcry as Benue Govt Okays Launch of Fulani Security Outfit in the state”, reads:
“We read in a section of the media a news story alleging among other things that the Government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has approved a certain Security outfit of fulanis in Benue state.
“We therefore clarify as follows.
“1. The Governor of Benue state is not aware of any Fulani Security outfit and would not have “okayed” one.
“2. The desperation exhibited by the “reporter” of this news came to fore when he/she introduced strange protocol into the story. Where is it known that a sitting Governor delegates his deputy to represent him at a function and the deputy in turn, sends his “protocol officer” to represent him?
“3. The Deputy Governor of Benue state, Hon. Sam Ode mni is knowledgeable and very familiar with protocol having served variously in Executive positions including Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Adviser to the Governor, Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and now Deputy Governor. Therefore, his Excellency wouldn’t have messed up protocol in the manner the authors of this malicious news story would want the unsuspecting members of the public to believe.
“4. Our findings have indicated that a verbal invitation to attend commissioning of an office was extended to the Protocol Officer of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Sam Ode Mni, Gabriel Igoche in his personal capacity. Igoche was known to Alh. Tershaku while working for Engr. Benson Abouno in same capacity as Protocol Officer. His purported attendance at the meeting has nothing to associate Governor Alia’s led administration.
“5. Yes, Governor Hyacinth Alia is desirous to see IDPs return to their homes and farmlands, but he is not desperate to use all means to achieve this. He is working on legitimate strategies to implement this project he promised the people of the state. Very soon, the results will manifest.”
