Gov Alia Accuses Moro, Agbese Of Plots To Destabilise Benue

BY VICTOR BUORO – The Benue State government has accused some National Assembly (NASS) members and their cronies of plotting to destabilise Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration for manifestly selfish and savage reasons.

Identifying what it described as devious plans by some forces in Abuja, comprising some National Assembly members to undermine the current administration, the government specifically pointed accusing fingers at Senator Abba Moro and Hon. Philip Agbese as the arrowheads of the devious plots.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Sir Tersoo Kula, which blamed the Abuja-based lawmakers for hatching insidious plans with their cronies against the State government, stated thus; “We have smelt this on many fronts, particularly, following the torrent of divisive concoctions sponsored in the media by these same agents of underdevelopment.”

In calling out Senator Moro, elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, the statement said; “He is a serial beneficiary of the caretaker committee system in Benue state under the same 1999 constitution as amended. He has served in the same capacity in Okpokwu LGA some years back.

“Startlingly, Moro alleged during a press briefing in Abuja recently that the dissolution of the former elected LG Councils by the Benue State House of Assembly is the cause of insecurity in Benue state. Curiously, he failed to buttress his assertion. The government of Benue state is worried because such insinuation coming from a person of Moro standing should not be overlooked.”

Justifying its claims against the Senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District in the upper legislative Chamber, the statement further said; “Benue people should ask Moro to unravel more about what he knows of the root cause of insecurity as it relates to the dissolution of elected LG councils. Our suspicion is that Moro may be discreetly cooking crooked plans to destabilize the state to justify his assertion.”

Turning its searchlight on Hon. Philip Agbese, who is the incumbent lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, the Governor’s Spokesman said; “We view his fabrications as a deliberate attempt at misinforming the people with the vicious aim of creating an uprising against the government of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

“Agbese blatantly, during a press conference in Abuja, lied about security votes for the state. We make bold to state unequivocally here that the security vote for Benue has never risen to N1 billion needless to mention N3 billion under the Rev. Fr. Alia’s administration. So, Agbese will surely be provided an avenue for him to prove beyond reasonable doubt such unfounded allegations against His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the Government of Benue State.”

Also addressing issues around a purported letter to herdsmen, the statement said; “We read in the media insinuations that a letter was sent to herdsmen to return to Benue for open grazing. However, it would be recalled that during the burial ceremony of the late Tor Sankera at Katsina-Ala recently, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia made an unambiguous pronouncement that the Anti Open Grazing and Prohibiting Law of Benue State is still alive and shall be enforced fully.

“Therefore, His Excellency has not, through directives or by himself, sent a letter to any group, including Herdsmen, to come into the state to contravene the law in question.”

Maintaining that “Benue shall be great again”, the statement further said; “The Government of Benue State is worried that based on the already exhibited desperation of some retrogressive elements, it is possible they must have equally cooked such a nefarious communication to achieve their unholy ambition.

“The Benue State government is digging into this matter. If anything of such is discovered, the perpetrators must be assured, they will have to answer for their sins against the State.”

The statement, which acknowledged and appreciated the Federal Government for the support in addressing security challenges in Benue state, said; “We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is keeping his promise to help Governor Alia in his determination to keep and fulfill his side of the covenant with the people of the state.”