By Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi, Reporting for Nigerian Concord
About twenty two members of the Benue State House of Assembly have reportedly collected a sum of N220m to impeach the speaker of the House, Mr. Aondona Dajoh.
Dajoh’s sin according to sources within the Benue State Government House was holding a secret meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume in Lafia three weeks ago.
He is being accused by Governor Alia’s kitchen cabinet members of plotting the impeachment of the governor with Senator George Akume during the secret meeting in the Nasarawa state capital.
According to investigation by Nigerian Concord Newspaper, Governor released the impeachment funds to the twenty two lawmakers to impeach the speaker and subsequently install his stooge, Mr. Berger Alfred as the new speaker.
Investigation also revealed that the impeachment funds were released to a former principal officer of the Benue State House of Assembly (name withheld)who now works closely with the governor.
The said former lawmaker has been holding meetings with the twenty two pro-impeachment lawmakers on how to carry out the exercise without raising dust.
Meanwhile, a pressure group known as Gboko APC Concrete Youths Forum has accused Governor Alia of being the brain behind the plot to impeach Speaker Dajoh and replace him with Berger Alfred.
The accusation was contained in a press statement signed by the president of the association, Mr. Philip Terkator and made available to journalists this evening.
The statement reads:
The Plot To Remove Aondona Dajoh: The plotters and their collaborators must explain the motive for this.
As a group, we are not lacking in respect for truth and decency. We are also not lacking in giving respect to whom respect is due, especially when we are sure our respect will be reciprocated in same measure.
This honourable group heard substantially that a plot to remove our own has been perfected by those who trade in chaos and anarchy for profits.
The controversy trailing this move needs to be explained, even as we know it’s a design by certain anti-Dajoh elements, who feel disgruntled that the Honorable speaker has done more than any speaker before him in their first seven months as speaker, hence the evil plot to have him dethroned.
As a group we need answers to the following questions;
1. What has the Speaker done wrong to deserve this odious treatment under the nose of His Excellency, Gov. Hyacinth Iormem Alia?
2. Is the Benue public too small to get answers from a government that is supposed to serve us?
3. What has Jemgbagh done wrong to deserve this planned action against our brother? Is Minda more deserving of what belongs to Jemgbagh?
4. Are we to take this plot against our brother in good fate (when it finally happens) and wait for the planners at the polls in 2027?
5. Which part is His Excellency, the governor of Benue State, Dr Hyacinth Alia playing in all of this?
6. Is this what we deserve from a government we did everything to install?
Benue people must recall that Hon. Aondona Dajoh was elected Speaker in a contest with his mother, Mrs Becky Orpin. It is this group’s position that should anything happen to Aondona Dajoh’s seat as Speaker, only the emergence of another one of ours will be acceptable.
We are a peace loving group but if pushed too much, we will have no option but to protest non violently in public, as well as protest at the polls in 2027.
We wish to call the attention of all Benue people of goodwill to this odious evil being organized against Jemgbagh under a Jechira leadership. We will remember this evil for the rest of our lives should it come to pass.