Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has accused National Assembly members that come from the Gwer/Gwer West Federal Constituency axis of the state of opposing his development plans for the state.
The governor made the fresh accusation without naming specific individuals during a thank-you tour at St. Francis Primary School Aliade in the Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent reports that Senator Titus Zam of Benue Northwest and Arc. Asema Achado, a member of the House of Representatives for Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, are the key national parliamentarians from the area. Both have been strong supporters of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, since a falling out between Akume and Alia over control of the now fragmented All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Alia noted that opposition from National Assembly members within the constituency was hindering his developmental plans. However, he reassured that this would not stop progress in the state.
Also speaking at the event, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Chairman of the Benue APC Elders Forum, praised Governor Alia’s leadership, calling for statewide support to foster peace and success. He emphasised that over 120 elders across the state support the governor in fulfilling his campaign promises.
Mrs. Comfort Agbo, Caretaker Chairman of Gwer East LGA, echoed the community’s pride in Alia’s achievements and appealed for forgiveness for the National Assembly members’ actions against the Governor.
In a swift response, Arc. Asema Achado accused the governor of twisting facts to gain political favour.
In a statement by his personal assistant, Mendah Manasseh, Achado expressed disbelief and disappointment at the governor’s accusations. He criticised Alia for spreading “deliberate misinformation and falsehood” and alleging that the governor had previously accused the people of Gwer of being cattle rustlers.
Achado highlighted that the people of Gwer East/Gwer West were expecting to hear about the governor’s achievements in their constituency over the past year, but Alia could not cite any completed projects.
Achado challenged Governor Alia to name a single project he has commenced or completed in Gwer East or Gwer West over the past year. He advised the governor to stop using Senator George Akume and National Assembly members from Benue State as scapegoats for his unfulfilled campaign promises.
The ongoing supremacy battle between the governor and the SGF, which has fragmented the APC in the state, has also seen members of the National Assembly queue behind the SGF. The rift has since defied several interventions from critical stakeholders, including those initiated by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Tor Tiv, Prof. Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.
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