Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report how the senator representing Benue NorthEast Senatorial District, Emmanuel Udende bribed two pressure groups in Benue state with a whooping N25 million to hold separate press conferences in Makurdi, and instructed them to call him to move a Motion on the floor of the Senate next week that a State of Emergency should be declared in Benue state as a result of the ongoing killings in some areas of the state.
One of the pressure groups according to reliable sources that are privy to the plans is the Benue Youth Forum led by Mr. Terrence Kuanum who is the media Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who is also having a running battle with the governor of the state, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
The other group is the Benue Rebirth Movement led by another ally of Senator George Akume. “They were paid a whooping N25M million by Senator Udende who represents the most affected areas of Benue state. They have been instructed to hold press conferences and urge the senator to call for a State of Emergency. Udende also asked them to threaten him that the youths in the state will burn down his properties in Sankera and Makurdi if he fails to call for the Emergency Rule next week” one of the source said.
However, some media handlers of Senator Udende have taken to the Social Media this evening where they wrote that the Zone A senator “should please move a Motion for a State of Emergency” on the floor of the Senate immediately after Easter break.
Recall that Senator Udende had stated in the media that he wouldn’t mind if President Bola Tinubu declares a State of Emergency in Benue state, saying that the state government seemed not to have the power to curb insecurity.
Speaking on the development, a public affairs analyst, Benjamin Igbokwe told this newspaper that Senator Udende should explain the efforts he had made to support the state government to curb insecurity In Benue state.
Igbokwe pressed further that security issue isn’t happening in Benue state alone, stressing that the federal government should come to rescue the affected states instead of listening to a call for a State of Emergency as planned by Senator Udende.
Meanwhile, this newspaper gathered that the plan to call for an Emergency Rule in Benue state is not unconnected to the ongoing leadership crisis between Governor Alia and his estranged political godfather, Senator George Akume.