Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has refuted allegations suggesting that he orchestrated recent calls for the removal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The controversy began when the newly inaugurated Gubernatorial Liaison Officers of the 23 Local Government Areas in Benue State, alongside the Benue Renaissance Group urged President Bola Tinubu to sack Senator Akume, accusing him of undermining Governor Alia. The Alliance for Truth and Justice later expressed shock, alleging that the Governor was behind the campaign against the SGF.
In a statement released over the weekend in Makurdi, Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, denied these allegations.
The statement read, “This rebuttal is necessitated by the mischief circulating in the media, sponsored by the SGF’s proxies, who are desperate to blackmail the Governor and distract him from his unprecedented developmental strides in the state. These individuals based their mischievous claims on the communique released by a group of appointees of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“While the views expressed in the communique reflect the concerns of these appointees, it is critical to emphasize that they do not represent an official stance of the Governor. The individuals involved acted autonomously and did not claim to speak on behalf of Governor Alia.
“If the Governor wanted Senator Akume removed, he knows the appropriate channels for making such a request, just as he did when recommending him for the SGF position. The ongoing public attacks from Akume’s political allies, including his wife, are regrettable, but Governor Alia has maintained restraint and chosen not to retaliate.”
The Governor emphasized his commitment to governance, stating: “Benue has endured underdevelopment for too long to allow distractions. The Reverend gentleman is committed to his mandate and remains focused on delivering democratic dividends to the people.”
However, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State, Daniel Ihomun, criticised the Governor’s response, calling it contradictory and dishonest.
“The statement is full of contradictions and lies. It is misleading to suggest Governor Alia played any role in Senator Akume’s appointment as SGF. Senator Akume’s political relationship with President Tinubu predates Governor Alia’s tenure and was a significant factor in his appointment,” Ihomun said.
He also questioned the claim that the appointees acted independently, noting that a similar autonomous action by a commissioner previously resulted in suspension.
Ihomun added, “Why were the GLOs received and entertained by the Governor’s Chief of Staff after their controversial call for Akume’s removal? If their actions were unauthorized, why have they not been sanctioned?”
The APC urged the Governor to prioritise party unity and focus on fulfilling his campaign promises.
“Governor Alia and Senator Akume must work together to achieve the progress Benue State deserves. This is a time for unity, not division,” Ihomun added.
