The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by some forces in Abuja to destabilise his government.
Alia said this “devious plans” were being hatched by the forces comprising some members of the National Assembly, including Senator Abba Moro and Hon. Philip Agbese.
“We have smelt this on many fronts, particularly, following the torrent of divisive concoctions sponsored in the media by these same agents of underdevelopment,” a Friday statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, read in part.
He described Moro as 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.
“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 destabilise the state to justify his assertion,” the statement read.
The state governor also berated Agbese for using “fabrications” as a deliberate attempt at misinforming the people with the vicious aim of creating an uprising against his government.
The state governor noted that Agbese “blatantly, during a press conference in Abuja, lied about security votes for the state”.
“We make bold to state unequivocally here that security vote for Benue has never risen to N1bn needless to mention N3bn under 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,” the statement read in part.
The state governor also faulted a letter reportedly sent to herdsmen to return to Benue for open grazing.
Alia reiterated his stance during the burial ceremony of the late Tor Sankera at Katsina-Ala recently, that the Anti Open Grazing and Prohibiting Law of Benue State is still alive and shall be enforced fully.
The governor said he 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.
“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 governor said.