…Say Federal, State Governments Protecting Fulani Interests
…Maintain That Akume, Governor’s Interests Are Anti-People
An umbrella youth organisation in the Middle Belt, the All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AMBYF), has picked holes in the claim by the Benue State governor, Fr. Hyacinth Iornem Alia, that the marauders who attacked and killed residents in some states in the region recently were foreigners.
The AMBYF, which spoke through Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, its National Leader, said the fact that Governor Alia could not specify the nationalities of the attackers, raises more questions than answers.
Also, there are indications that Benue people are suffering due to the political interests of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the state, particular the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who is in total control of the party’s structure, and does not want to implement existing laws against cattle grazing in order not to hurt Fulanis in the North.
Odeh, who spoke to Sunday Independent, stated: “As a governor, it is Fr. Alia’s responsibility to provide clear and accurate information to the public on issues of such importance.
“The ambiguity surrounding this statement suggests a potential conflict of interest, in addition to lack of transparency.
“The timing of Governor Alia’s statement, coming after his defence of the non-existing ECOWAS Protocol on Trans-humans, which some perceived as a script written to protect the interests of Fulani herdsmen, is suspicious.
“The subsequent attack on Benue people, resulting in over 70 deaths further underscores the need for clarity in addition to accountability.
“Governor Alia’s defensc of alleged perpetrators demoralises the spirit of self-defence and in addition emboldens further violence. “We urge him to reveal the country of origin of the foreigners he claimed were responsible for the attacks.
“This is particularly pertinent given Senator Bala Mohammed’s call for Fulanis worldwide to come to Nigeria, which may have contributed to the influx of herdsmen in the country.
“We demand transparency in addition to accountability from our leaders. Governor Alia should prioritise the safety and security of Benue State’s citizens over any perceived interests.”
Dr Victor Mathew, a human rights promoter and security expert, said he had been following the security challenges, especially in Benue and Plateau very keenly. Dr Mathew, Executive Director, Kingdom Advocacy Network (KAN), said: “The killings in these states have continued over the years unabated. “I believe the Federal Government which has the monopoly of instruments of coercion, has over the years failed to address this challenge. “I do not agree with the position of the governor of Benue State that the killers are foreigners. To me, that is not a cogent reason why the people will still be killed with no government’s response, except condolence messages.
“It is even very embarrassing that foreigners, according to the governor, will just come and kill Nigerians without being apprehended. “I believe strongly that these killers, both in Benue and Plateau states, are Fulani herdsmen. Even if the alleged killers are foreigners, they have local collaborators.
“I also believe our military and other security agencies must step up their game and combat terrorism instead of making excuses. “I wish to also align myself with the solution proffered by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma (rtd) that his people must defend themselves.
“The people of Benue should and must rise up and defend themselves because the government has failed to defend them.
“These killings will continue until the people defend themselves, whether the killers are Nigerians or foreigners.”
However, a source in Benue State, who pleaded anonymity, maintained that the Benue State governor has been playing politics with the herders’ attack.
He pointed out that the governor deliberately rendered ineffective and failed to implement the existing Anti-Open Grazing Law enacted during the administration of his predecessor, former Governor Ortom.
Also, he stressed that the governor rendered impotent the security outfit put in place by former Governor Samuel Ortom to check the marauding armed herders, thereby exposing the Benue people to danger.
The source also accused the governor of looking the other side as the citizens are being killed on a daily basis as he does not want to hurt some political interests, who are in control of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He disclosed that one of such godfathers in Benue State is George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), believed to be in total control of the APC structure in the state, instead of the governor.
The source said: “Governor Alia is still in his first term and will not go against the SGF by exerting his influence if he will finish his first term and be returned for the second.
“He rendered impotent structures put in place by former Governor Ortom, who was not in the good books of the ‘godfather’, being a strong Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, who humiliated the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his way to becoming the state governor.”
Another source stated that Governor Alia seems to have learnt from the experiences of his suspended Rivers State counterpart, Governor Simi Fubara, who has been having a running battle with his godfather, Nyesom Wike, until President Bola Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in the state.
He stated: “Governor Alia does not want to wield his powers as he is afraid of the APC leaders in the state, especially the SFG, who is the de facto APC Leader in Benue State.
“He just wants to forge ahead until he bags his second term. This is because he does not want to hurt Akume, or even the Fulanis so that the powers-that-be, not only in Benue, but in the entire North will not work against his second term.
“That is why we are where we are now. This has given room for our people to be slaughtered on a daily basis like chickens and our women raped, while we are chased out of our farms and ancestral land.
“For how long we will continue to bear this, we do not know as both the Federal and State government seem reluctant to protect us.
“Ironically, Benue is now an APC state like the Federal Government.
Even the recent local government election was a sham as people believe that the outcome was a result of an agreement between George Akume and Governor Alia.
“We do not know where all these will leave Benue State as our people are being killed on a daily basis and our leaders do not seem to care.” (Daily Independent)
