Political Parties To Tinubu: Beam Searchlight On State Of Affairs In Benue

The Coalition of Political Parties in Benue State and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), have urged President Bola Tinubu to beam his searchlight on the state of affairs in Benue State.

This is as the group raised alarm over authoritarian rule and anti-democratic policies of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue state.

The group while releasing its one-year assessment report on the administration of Governor Alia in Abuja on Thursday described it as the worst since the return of democracy in 1999.

The parties are the Accord Party, APGA, Zenith Labour Party, Boot , APM, NRM, APP, ADC as well as the NNPP

Tor Aondofa Paul of the National Rescue Movement, Simon Ogbe of the Zenith Labour Party and Bishop Benson Ijachi of the Accord Party, who addressed the media said the governor has failed in security, transparency and accountability.

“We all know that the primary responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and property. Since Governor Alia assumed power, the security situation in Benue State has deteriorated as compared to how it has been in the last four years. Since he assumed office, no single operational vehicle has been bought for the security agents in Benue State to support their operations in the state.

“We have witnessed a massive influx of cows and armed men in the state despite the existence of the law prohibiting open Grazing in Benue State. These men are complicit in the renewed insecurity in the state as they have been fingered in several killings and attacks on innocent Benue people in Guma, Logo, Gwer-Wesr, Makurdi, Otukpo, Agatu, Apa, Gwer-East, Kwande, Ukum and Ado local government areas of the state.

“Just a few weeks ago the chief of staff to former governor Samuel Ortom, Pastor Terwase Orbunde was attacked on his farm along the Welfare quarters – Mobile Police barracks road in the heart of Makurdi. While Orbunde survived the attack with bullet wounds, his wife and house help were kidnapped. They were only released a few days later after a ransom was paid to the herders,” the statement read in part.