Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report that the coup against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume has thickened as the Benue state governor, Hyacinth Alia reportedly rejected the commissioner nominees by his estranged political godfather last week.
Also, the governor has turned down order by Senator George Akume for him to sack the Secretary to the State Government and replace him with Professor Steve Ugbah.
This newspaper also gathered that the handlers of the governor have also advised him not to agree with Akume’s order which is to sack the Chief of Staff, Paul Biam just because of the personal rift between them.
Information has it that Senator George Akume had also asked Alia to ensure the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Aondona Dajoh within two weeks and replace him with his anointed candidate for the Speakership, Mrs Becky Orpin but the handlers of the governor had ensured that he turned down order.
A top Benue State Government House source informed our correspondent that the SGF had instructed Alia during a meeting between the duo at the SGF’s office in Abuja last week to sack the SSG, Chief of Staff and the Speaker while handing over the list of his commissioner nominees to the governor.
Reports have it that on getting to Makurdi the following day, Governor Alia called a meeting of the cabals in his administration led by Paul Biam to brief them of the orders of the SGF.
Asking of the opinions of the Benue State Government House cabals, Alia noted that the SGF had threatened to give him the same ill treatment he gave to his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom PhD if he (Alia) refuses to carry out his orders on the SSG, Chief of Staff and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly immediately.
On their own, the cabals advised the governor not to yield to the orders by Senator George Akume, stressing that following the order will bring the state administration into disrepute.
Biam specifically explained to Alia how the SGF wanted Governor Samuel Ortom to call off the signing of the State Anti Open Grazing Law even when dignitaries, monarchs, security agencies, stakeholders, politicians and government officials had arrived the venue of the signing in May 2017.
He further told the governor that Chief Samuel Ortom took a very dangerous decision by shunning Akume’s advice that day and signed the Law.
Biam and other cabals further advised Alia against appointing Akume’s loyalists into his cabinet or lucrative Parastatals, stressing that they won’t let him have a full control of his government with their looting spree.
However, Governor Alia has reportedly made it known to his handlers that he is ready to take full charge of the runnings of the state administration, adding that he won’t succumb to threats from his estranged godfather.
The governor also informed his handlers that he would summon courage to stand up to the SGF just like his predecessor did when the pressure became unbearable for him.