Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The political camp of the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Benue state, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN has urged the governor of the State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia not to criminalize criticism about his failure on the security challenges facing the state.
The former Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation’s political camp made this known in a press statement signed and made available to journalists by his Media Assistant, Mr. James Ian, adding that Governor Alia cannot escape responsibility for his failure to stop insecurity especially for the fact that he promised to end the challenges within his first one hundred days in office as governor.
Aondoakaa’s media assistant in his statement condemned a statement credited to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Kula where he accused the PDP candidate of politicizing insecurity in the state.
According to him, Kula’s statement was desperate and reckless , noting that it shows that the Benue State Government has abandoned the solemn duty of confronting insecurity and instead resorted to chasing imaginary political enemies.
He added that the statement from the Governor’s spokesperson was nothing more than a public confession that the present administration has exhausted ideas and is now searching for scapegoats to explain its catastrophic failure to protect the lives and property of Benue people.
Noting that it’s shameful that a government under whose watch communities are repeatedly invaded, farmers displaced, and innocent people killed now considers criticism of its woeful performance a greater threat than the criminals unleashing terror across the state, the statement stated that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has done nothing more than exercise his constitutional right, and indeed his moral obligation, to demand greater commitment from those who receive huge monthly security votes and are entrusted with the safety of Benue people.
“In every functioning democracy, governments are held accountable for their performance. That is not politicization; it is the essence of democratic governance” it added.
The statement reads in parts: “The attempt to portray legitimate criticism as sponsorship of violence is not only irresponsible but dangerously reckless. If the Benue State Government possesses any credible evidence against Chief Aondoakaa or any other citizen, it should present such evidence to the appropriate authorities instead of engaging in media trials and political propaganda”
According to Ian, no amount of blackmail can substitute for security. “No press statement can erase the painful reality confronting our people daily” he added.
He said further: “The Governor’s spokesman claimed that the administration has provided logistics, intelligence, motivation and coordination for security agencies. If those efforts have been so effective, why do attacks continue with frightening regularity? Why are communities still being overrun? Why are thousands of Benue people unable to return safely to their ancestral homes? These are the questions the government should answer, instead of attacking those demanding results.
“Even more bizarre is the suggestion that opposition leaders should be investigated merely because they criticized government failures. Such a dangerous reasoning has no place in a constitutional democracy. Today, it is Chief Aondoakaa; tomorrow it could be any other Benue person who dares to question those in power. Alia and his government should stop intimidating law abiding citizens.
“The same administration preaching against the “politicization of tragedy” has itself converted every security failure into a public relations exercise, issuing lengthy attacks on political opponents while families continue to bury their loved ones”
According to him, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa will not be intimidated into silence, stressing that he will continue to speak for displaced farmers, grieving families, frightened communities and every Benue man and woman who believes that government exists first and foremost to protect lives.
“Rather than wasting public resources on inflammatory political statements, Governor Alia’s administration should channel its energy towards ending the bloodshed that has become an unbearable burden on our people” he noted.