Nigerian Concord Newspaper
This is certainly not a good time for the Benue state chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as the governor of the state, Father Hyacinth Alia has decided not to take orders from the party.
Investigation by Nigerian Concord Newspaper showed that Reverend Father Alia yesterday rejected the names of the commissioner nominees sent to him by the leadership of the party in the state.
The governor also rejected the juicy ministries and Parastatals which his estranged godfather, Dr. George Akume has sent nominees for.
This newspaper gathered that Agada had sent a list of the party’s commissioner nominees to the governor who rejected the list, saying that he won’t let the party or the SGF take control of his administration.
It was also gathered that Senator George Akume had reportedly sent his nominees as commissioners and Heads of some ministries like Finance, Works, Lands and Agriculture as well as the BIRS, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and BIPC to the governor who also rejected same.
This is not the first time Alia would reject orders from the party as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Few days after his Inauguration as governor, the party leadership in Benue met and sent him the name of Becky Orpin as the consensus candidate for the Speaker of the State House of Assembly but Alia who had been advised by the Benue Government House cabals led by his Chief of Staff, Paul Biam to cut the influence of the SGF on the legislative arm immediately threw his weight behind, Aondona Dajoh.
While Becky Orpin with full legislative experience is from Gboko East, Aondona Dajoh with no legislative experience is from Gboko West.
On the day of Inauguration, Alia didn’t leave the Chambers of the House of Assembly until he was advised to do so. He however left behind his foot soldiers led by Paul Biam to ensure that Becky Orpin didn’t emerge as Speaker of the House.
Just three days ago, the party in Benue sent its candidates for the House of Assembly leadership to the Speaker who rejected same and announced those that Governor Alia had sent to him the previous day as the Principal Officers of the House.
Meanwhile, the APC State working committee in Benue state is considering punitive actions on the Governor and other Stakeholders of the party as crisis between the Governor and SWC of the Party sower higher .
According to our sources, the State working committee of the party led by Comrade Austin Agada has perfected necessary arrangements to summon the Governor of the State for what they tag as gross misconduct and abuse of office.
According to a press Statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of APC Comrade Dan-Morgan Ihomun stated that,
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State is aware that some unscrupulous stakeholders have scheduled meetings in their local governments for zoning positions without recourse to the leadership of the party”.
Whereas the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress empowers only party chairmen at all levels to convene such meetings, these perfidious persons have rather called the meetings without involving the leadership of the party.
PS Dan-Morgan added that,
“The party strongly frowns at this act of insubordination and usurpation of party duties and hereby states clearly that such meetings are illegal, and unauthorized and decisions taken at such fora would have no binding effect on the party.
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has not communicated to the party the need for zoning of positions therefore, those hastily convening these meetings are on their own.