Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Dajoh Aondona has reportedly bowed to pressures from the handlers of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume to carry out an impeachment process against the state governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
This newspaper learnt that the speaker and some leaders of the Assembly are yet to accept the Jeeps, cash gifts and houses in Abuja which the SGF camp offered them at their last meeting.
Recall that the SGF and the governor have been at logger heads over the leadership of the party in the state for quite some months. This led to the birth of the Omakolo-led faction of the All Progressive Congress in Benue state.
Senator Akume had wanted his political ally, Becky Orpine to become the Speaker of the 10th Assembly but the governor threw his weight behind Dajoh Aondona who would later emerge speaker of the Assembly. A serious fight was recorded between the governor’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Paul Biam and the embattled state chairman of the APC in the state, Austin Agada who later told the media that he was physically assaulted by the former state lawmaker in the presence of the likes of Terhemen Tarzoor, Michael Msuuan and others.
Recall that Speaker Aondona Dajoh was recently accused by the governor’s handlers of holding a secret meeting with the SGF in Lafia, the capital city of Nasarawa state. It was alleged that Alia’s impeachment was critically discussed at the secret meeting which followed the decamping ceremony that Senator Akume went to attend in Lafia at that time.
Although Dajoh’s handlers denied that he met Akume in Lafia, they admitted that the duo met at the SGF’s residence before he traveled to Nasarawa state for the decamping ceremony.
Media reports however had it that the speaker actually traveled separately to Lafia where he met Akume. He was asked to impeach both the governor and his deputy, Dr. Sam Ode whom a federal appointment was being arranged for as a succour.
According to media reports then, the speaker was to become governor in acting capacity once the impeachment was concluded. “The speaker wasn’t totally in agreement with the plot but he had no choice” a source in the camp of the SGF said.
Nigerian Concord Newspaper learnt that the impeachment plot was then shelved as a result of public outcries.
It was gathered that Speaker Dajoh who was relieved that the plot was halted began moves to reconcile the governor with Senator George Akume who reportedly stopped all the secret efforts of the speaker to achieve the reconciliation.
While the internal crisis within the Benue state chapter of the APC continued, members of the party’s National Assembly Caucus led by Senator Titus Zam held series of press conferences where they accused the governor of not carrying them along in his administration.
Titus Zam had through his media handlers and some documented video clips said many times that he won’t rest until the governor is impeached by members of the State House of Assembly.
Two weeks ago, the plot to impeach the governor was rekindled with Speaker Dajoh being mandated to ensure that the process is successfully carried out within a month.
Dajoh who finally bowed to pressures was reportedly threatened with his own impeachment with a strong word to replace him with Becky Orpine who would impeach the governor.
This newspaper can authoritatively report that some state lawmakers on the side of Governor Alia are being talked to in order for them to cooperate with the speaker to remove the governor.
While monetary donations are ongoing to fulfill the impeachment task, some of the lawmakers loyal to Father Alia had been promised automatic tickets for their reelection.
However, it was not confirmed at the time of filing this report how many lawmakers that have keyed into the plot.
“Impeachable offences are being collated against the governor as I speak with you” a reliable source within the SGF camp told our reporter.