By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
The bloodfest in Benue State and State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s comment that faceless Abuja-based politicians of Benue stock were behind it, have pitched the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state against the governor.
In a matter-of-fact manner, PDP demanded that Alia should, in the public interest, name the particular politicians rather than allegedly engage in opaque accusations, if he was serious about finding solutions to the roiling insecurity in the North-Central Nigeria state.
But Government House, Makurdi, the seat of power in the State, hit back, saying the governor was not blowing hot air, but was doing things because of the love he has for people of the state.
In a statement today, the PDP accused the Governor of merely engaging in a blame game, following Alia’s comments in a live interview on Channels TV, where he made his accusation.
In the statement signed by PDP State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, the party thumbed down Alia’s allegations as an attempt at political escapism, describing such as not just irresponsible but also dangerously detracting from “the urgent and substantive measures needed to address the crisis.”
In strong words, PDP stated that such “reckless scapegoating” by the governor was deeply disheartening and counter-productive.
The statement read,in part: “It is important to note that Benue’s security challenges are not in isolation in Nigeria. Neighbouring states such as Plateau and Taraba face similar threats, yet their governments have shown a more responsible approach by acknowledging the security realities and taking proactive steps to address them.
“Conversely, Governor Alia’s focus has been on blame-shifting, alternating between accusing Abuja politicians, foreign invaders and other scapegoats, instead of confronting the root causes of insecurity.
“We must ask: Are attacks in Plateau, Enugu, Taraba, or elsewhere solely attributable to Abuja representatives? Or is Benue being unfairly singled out in a political witch-hunt?
“The truth remains that herdsmen attacks in Benue predate Governor Alia’s administration, just as they did during the tenures of Governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam. ”
The PDP noted that past administrations in the state recognized the threat and directly pinpointed it as attacks by armed herdsmen without recourse to any blame game.
PDP alleged that logic and reason seem to be absent from the Alia administration’s approach to insecurity.
It stated: “Instead of addressing the fundamental issues, the governor’s rhetoric is marred by distractions, false accusations, and propaganda.
“Benue’s security challenges must not be dismissed or sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.
“To insinuate or outrightly claim that Abuja representatives are sponsors of herdsmen terrorism is not only irresponsible but a dangerous misdiagnosis of the problem.”
To the PDP, such reckless assertions by the Alia administration will definitely undermine genuine efforts to address insecurity in the state.
The party stated that the fact that the Abuja politicians are not protected by constitutional immunity,is the more reason Gov. Alia,being a Reverend, should have boldly named them and contacted security agencies to do the needful against such persons,if his claims are genuine.
PDP stated: “If he genuinely believes his claims, he should present comprehensive security reports to the relevant authorities for appropriate action rather than resorting to baseless propaganda.
“The PDP urges Governor Alia to abandon the politics of blame and focus on concrete, inclusive, and responsible security strategies. Genuine leadership at this critical time requires honesty, responsibility, and a unifying spirit: qualities that are vital for a leader who also bears the moral responsibility of a Reverend.”
Firing back swiftly, the Alia administration assured that the governor could not trade with the blood of innocent people of the state, murdered by soulless herders.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, noted that “there were pockets of untoward comments as a result of misinterpretations and disinformation, orchestrated by the usual unprincipled lots, whose conscience is permanently for hire.”
The spokesman explained that Gov. Alia was known for his altruism and has remained passionate about the defence and utmost care for the people of Benue state.
The CPS stated: “He usually has sleepless nights using all legitimate approaches to handle the situation including the needed diplomacy.
“His assertion that some politicians are complicit in certain violent activities is not baseless, rather, it reflects realities familiar to those who have closely followed the security challenges in the state.
“Benue currently grapples with attacks from two distinct groups: (a) Foreign terrorist herders invading rural communities, and (b) Local bandits and gangsters, primarily active in the Sankera axis.
“It is within this context that the Governor emphasized that some of these local outlaws, particularly in Sankera, are being shielded and motivated by certain politicians based in Abuja.
“During his live appearance on the TV, the Governor made a clear distinction between the marauding terrorists’ attacks and the outlaws heinous activities in the state, particularly in the Sankera and Kwande axis. It is the outlaws at Sankera that he emphasized are kept, and are often motivated for nefarious activities by some political leaders in Abuja.”
Kula emphasized that as far as the issue of insecurity bedeviling the state is concerned, Gov. Alia has never shied away from calling a spade a spade, hence his declaration that the kind of Fulanis attacking the state are foreigners.
According to the spokesman, when the Governor made the assertion, it attracted criticism from predictable quarters, but the position was subsequently validated by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, while addressing journalists in Abuja, Kula noted, affirmed that intelligence gathered by the military had revealed that many of the attackers were indeed non-Nigerians and was specific that foreign herders were behind attacks on Benue and Plateau communities.
“As the Chief Security officer of the state, the Governor is often privy to intelligence that must not always be divulged to the public.
“Let us not forget that he clearly told the world that he is privy to the preliminary report from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the unrest at Zaki-Biam,” the CPS explained further.
Kula appealed to Benue people to remain calm as the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry would surely be out and the public would be able to know its findings.
