2 months ago
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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
The Benue State National Assembly Caucus, on Thursday, accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of shunning the peace initiatives put in place by President Bola Tinubu to reconcile him with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
However, Alia’s media aide, Solomon Iorpev, challenged the federal lawmakers to provide proof of the governor’s invitation to the peace parley, stating that the governor had not received such an invitation.
The ongoing feud between Alia and the SGF has created a crisis within the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, with the party divided along their supporters’ lines.
Efforts to reconcile the two APC leaders, including interventions by the paramount ruler, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, have not yielded positive results.
Recently, the national leadership of the APC disbanded the party’s executive council in Benue and inaugurated a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Benue National Assembly and Federal Appointees Caucus, Philip Agbese, expressed concern over Alia’s alleged refusal to embrace the peace initiative proposed by President Tinubu.
He said, “The Benue National Assembly caucus is not surprised. It is his (Alia’s) nature and character to disrespect highly placed individuals and authorities. It is a clog in the wheel of progress for anyone, not to mention the governor himself, to undermine the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring peace returns to the party in Benue.”
Agbese alleged that Alia’s actions demonstrated a desire to “destroy the APC in Benue State for his narrow interests.”
He, however, expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be resolved, “as Mr. President is desirous of seeing a united APC family in Benue State.”
But defending Alia, his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity, and Strategy, Iorpev, challenged Agbese to provide the invitation extended to the governor for the peace parley.
He stated, “I don’t see any reason the governor would shun a peace accord meeting unless he was not informed or not properly invited, or he had prior engagements.”
Iorpev further questioned, “Can the National Assembly caucus provide the invitation extended to His Excellency? The governor has never taken the party for granted; he always honors all agreements with the party. He doesn’t have time for grudges; he is busy doing his work. Yet, the National Assembly caucus is always bringing issues to distract him. Why can’t they allow the governor to focus? Why is the SGF not complaining? Why are they complaining on his behalf?”
When asked about the relationship between the SGF and Alia since the intervention by the Tor Tiv and others, Iorpev confirmed that the two leaders are on good terms, stating, “I know they are on talking terms and hug each other whenever they meet.” He advised the National Assembly caucus to focus on their responsibilities and stop distracting the governor.
