Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report serious plans to unseat the embattled governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
This plot has received a massive support from the national secretariat of All Progressive Congress since it was reported last week by some newspapers that the governor was planning to dump the party. Alia’s media handlers have however denied the report.
According to Akume’s men, the governor’s sins are that he didn’t carry the SGF along in the running of the state administration and also that he didn’t agree to the monetary demands of the former Benue governor.
Presently, the SGF has called for two separate meetings which will be held in Abuja before the end of the week to finalize the impeachment process of the governor.
A top member of the State Working Committee of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressive Congress who confided in this newspaper hinted that Senator George Akume has set up two meetings with the party excos led by Austin Agada and all the state lawmakers who are his loyalists. They are being led by Rt. Hon. Becky Orpine. Orpine was Akume’s candidate for Speakership.
Expected to happen at the meeting according to our source are a directive by Senator Akume for the Assembly members loyal to him to begin to compile signatures for Alia’s impeachment, and also that members of the Austin Agada-led state excos should immediately pass a Vote of No Confidence on the governor.
Another source, a lawmaker representing one of the constituencies in Zone B said that Senator George Akume is very angry that the governor had neglected him since he assumed duties.
“The governor has betrayed Oga (SGF) and he must be stopped before he gains the kind of popularity, public sympathy and executive strength which his predecessor (Chief Samuel Ortom) successfully used to fight the Secretary to the Government of the Federation” the lawmaker who didn’t want to be mentioned said.
He continued: “On assumption of duties as governor, he was misled by some lazy people around him and he started using pseudo groups to attack Senator Akume through different press conferences and press releases. That is not acceptable.
“Now, he is hell bent on cutting Akume’s wings as far as Benue politics is concerned. Who made him governor. Who forced him on the party when the likes of Aondoakaa, Shija, Gemade and Orbunde who were eminently qualified were sidelined? The same Akume he wants to relegate”
This newspaper however gathered that a move to secure the required number of the state lawmakers for the impeachment process is in a top gear as the lawmakers loyal to the SGF are also considering forming a parallel government within the House by appointing their own Principal Officers since it is obvious that the Speaker and other present principal officers are on the side of the governor.
The parallel leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly will be led by Mrs Becky Orpine as a factional Speaker who will be getting supports from Abuja where their legislative sittings may be relocated to for security reason.
Recall that Austin Agada had last weekend accused the governor of setting up illegal local government caretaker committees but in response, one of the governor’s Aides said that the party chairman was angry because his nominees for Ogbadibo local government were dropped by the governor.
The Aide however called for the resignation of Agada, saying that he is using his position as the party chairman to threaten the security and peace of the state.