By Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi
Ten members of the Benue State House of Assembly who are loyalists of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume have dissociated themselves from the incriminating letter which was written to President Bola Tinubu against the state governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth.
The letter was written against Father Alia by some concerned Benue APC stakeholders under the suspended state chairman, Austin Agada last week
The letter which was tagged: “GOVERNOR ALIA’S ATTEMPT TO PUT BENUE APC IN JEOPARDY; OUR RESISTANCE” was used to explained the crises rocking the Benue State chapter of the party.
In the letter which was signed by all the members of the Benue State National Assembly Caucus as well as all the members of the Senator Akume political family, Governor Alia was accused of using his power to undermine the person of the SGF by dictating what happens in the state alone.
The petitioners pressed further that the governor hasn’t allowed Senator Akume to have any say in the appointments of local government caretaker committees, commissioners and board members. They also explained how the governor had used his power to hijack the leadership of the state House of Assembly from Akume.
But in a disclaimer this morning, members of Senator George Akume faction in the State House of Assembly led by Becky Orpine and Jonathan Agbidye condemned the letter written by the Benue APC stakeholders to President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting in a press statement they jointly signed and made available to journalists this morning, the state lawmakers loyal to Akume showed their displeasures towards the stakeholders led by Austin Agada for putting their names on the letter without their approval.
Saying that the stakeholders neither consult nor invite them to the meeting where the letter was written and signed, Becky Orpine, Jonathan Agbidye and other state lawmakers loyal to the SGF like
Samuel Agada, Ezra Nyiyongo, Manger Manger, Simon Tor Gabo, Akya Douglas, Peter Uche, Abraham Zahemen Jabi and Elias Audu said that they didn’t subscribe to the judgement passed against the governor in the said letter to Tinubu.
The statement reads: “We the undersigned members of Benue State House of Assembly read with dismay a publication making round the cyberspace with the Caption ” GOVERNOR ALIA’S ATTEMPT TO PUT BENUE APC IN JEOPARDY; OUR RESISTANCE.” emanating from Concerned Benue APC progressive Forum.
‘We wish to disassociate ourselves from the said publication very clear and wish the general public should note and know that we were not consulted, briefed nor informed of any meeting if at all a meeting was conveyed and such resolutions were reached before our names were penned down which we want to believe it was done in error.
“We also wish the general public and people of good conscience to know that we do not subscribe to the judgement passed in the said letter to Mr. President.
“We are conscious of our House standing rules which clearly forbids members of Benue state House of Assembly from making such statements.
“We hereby demand an apology from the originators of the said publication and our names be completely erase from the attendance”