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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has advised the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, not to drag the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, into the affairs of the PDP.
The party warned that to suggest that Senator Akume has a hand in the emergence of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, as the governorship candidate of the PDP, was an insult both to the SGF and the PDP.
The Benue State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Bright Yima Antyo, admonished the governor and his aides to refrain from making such suggestions, while reacting to reports making the rounds that the SGF plans to impose Chief Aondoakaa as governor of the state in 2027.
He insisted that to suggest that Aondoakaa emerged as the governorship candidate of the PDP, through the influence of Senator Akume, was an insult to the leadership and stakeholders of the PDP, who took part in the processes that led to the emergence of Aondoakaa as the flag-bearer of the party.
The party stated that it would have ignored the allegations, but for the reason that the allegation seeks to malign respected personalities and insult the integrity of the PDP, it deemed it necessary to respond.
According to the statement, Antyo said, “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state has been drawn to a mischievous and apparently sponsored report published in Sahara Reporters alleging that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is plotting to impose Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as Governor of Benue State in 2027.
“Ordinarily, such a publication, built entirely on speculation, anonymous claims, recycled propaganda and unsubstantiated allegations, would not deserve a response. However, because it seeks to malign respected personalities and insult the integrity of the PDP, it has become necessary to set the record straight.
“First, the report is an insult to the PDP, the oldest surviving political party in Nigeria, a party that has democratically produced presidents, governors, members of the National Assembly and State Assemblies, as well as local government chairmen and councillors for nearly three decades.
“To suggest that Chief Aondoakaa emerged as PDP’s governorship candidate through the influence of Senator George Akume is to insult every leader, stakeholder and member of the PDP in Benue State who participated in the process that produced the governorship candidate, among many others. Chief Aondoakaa did not emerge through the sponsorship of Senator Akume or any external political actor. He emerged through the internal democratic processes of the PDP.
“The sponsors of this report apparently believe that every political party operates like their camp, where candidates were handpicked and imposed on the majority of party members in phantom primaries that were later declared invalid by the national leadership of their party. The PDP is reputed for internal democracy and due process.
The PDP spokesman observed that “it is equally insulting to Senator George Akume, the leader of APC in Benue State and indeed North Central Nigeria, a former Governor of Benue state, former Minister, distinguished Senator for three terms and currently SGF, to suggest that he has abandoned his constitutional responsibilities to become involved in determining who emerges as a candidate of another political party.
“The claim that Senator Akume is supporting the PDP is particularly amusing. If that were true, why are some of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s most trusted political associates, appointees and supporters abandoning his camp in droves and gravitating towards the Akume political structure and other political parties, including the PDP?
“The truth is that Governor Alia has failed to manage his political camp, a development that accounts for the mass defections that have hit the camp. He is also presiding over a government facing increasing dissatisfaction across Benue State because of its inability to fulfil many of the promises he made to the people.
Additionally, he alleged that “After benefiting from unprecedented federal allocations arising from fuel subsidy removal, Benue people expected transformational projects and tangible improvements in security, agriculture, infrastructure and livelihoods.
“Instead, what they have largely witnessed are endless propaganda, political vendettas, abandoned promises and projects that raise more questions than answers.
“The so-called underpass at High Level Junction in Makurdi remains a glaring example. The underpass has become synonymous with flooding concerns in the area due to the apparent absence of an effective drainage solution. What was presented as a flagship achievement has become a symbol of poor planning.
“It is therefore not surprising that those who cannot defend their abysmal performance have resorted to manufacturing political enemies.
“Governor Alia should spend less time sponsoring propaganda and more time studying what his colleagues across the country are doing with the enormous resources made available to states following the removal of fuel subsidy.
“Governors such as Abdullahi Sule, Hope Uzodimma, Umar Bago, Alex Otti, among others, have utilised increased revenues to embark on major infrastructure projects, expand development programmes, improve public services and aggressively confront security challenges in their respective states.
“Benue people expected similar results after the unprecedented inflow of federal allocations to the state. Unfortunately, rather than showcasing landmark achievements commensurate with the resources available to him, Governor Alia appears more interested in political warfare, media attacks and the manufacturing of imaginary enemies.
“The people of Benue State need explanations for the utilisation of public funds, not endless propaganda designed to distract attention from the government’s shortcomings”, he advised.
“More importantly, it is instructive that the same allegations contained in the Sahara Reporters publication are identical to the talking points that have for days been circulated by appointees and supporters of Governor Alia.
“The coincidence is too striking to ignore. The language is the same. The accusations are the same. The political objective is the same. The desperation is the same.
“Benue people can therefore draw their own conclusions about the likely sponsors of this latest propaganda enterprise.
“The allegation that Senator Akume, Emmanuel Jime and others are funding PDP candidates to impeach Governor Alia is perhaps the most ridiculous claim in the entire report.”
He queried, “Where is the evidence? Who provided the funds? Which candidates received them? What transactions support this allegation? None.”,
