Hyacinth Alia, the Governor of Benue State, under the All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed concerns regarding a purported scheme aimed at destabilising his administration and removing him from office.
The APC governor made these allegations through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, during a media briefing held on Wednesday in Makurdi. He indicated that part of this alleged plot involves a coordinated campaign of misinformation alongside sponsored protests and demonstrations intended to undermine his governance.
Governor Alia stated, “the demonstrations are not organic expressions of public sentiment, but rather, calculated attempts by disgruntled elements to settle personal scores and advance a malicious agenda.”
He further elaborated, “These individuals, driven by a desperate desire to paint Benue State in the worst possible light, appear to believe that by doing so, they can somehow force the hand of President Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in our state.”
The governor characterised this approach as stemming from “a deep-seated aversion to positive change and a yearning for a return to a discredited status quo.” He added, “Their ultimate goal, it seems, is to create an environment of chaos and instability, allowing them to exploit the situation for their own selfish gain.”
Alia expressed particular concern over the misuse of the legal profession in what he termed a “campaign of deceit.” He remarked, “We have witnessed the spectacle of ex-convicts being paraded at press conferences, individuals masquerading as lawyers, and unregistered organisations submitting petitions filled with lies and offensive accusations to the National Assembly.”
He emphasised that these activities undermine the integrity of the legal profession and reflect the lengths to which individuals will go in pursuit of personal vendettas. “We urge the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to take swift and decisive action to address these instances of impersonation and professional misconduct,” he said.
The governor asserted, “Let us be clear, the sponsors of these protests are known, and their motives are transparent. They are driven by a desperate desire to remove Governor Alia from office, but they will not succeed. The people of Benue State are united in their support for their governor and will not allow these forces of disruption to undermine the progress being made under his leadership.”
Alia assured the public that “Benue State is safe and secure. All the arms of government are functioning smoothly, and the legislative business is proceeding seamlessly.” He noted that “Governor Alia is diligently delivering on his mandate, and the state is making significant strides in addressing the challenges it faces.”
While acknowledging that insecurity is a national issue, he affirmed that his administration is taking proactive measures to curb the activities of armed herders and protect the communities. “His administration is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents of Benue State,” Alia concluded.
