…condemn Police invasion of State Assembly

By Peter Duru

Makurdi- Bothered by the political crisis rocking Benue state, the tribal leaders of the state under the aegis of Mdzough U Tiv, MUT, Ochetoha K’ Idoma, OKI, and Omi Ny’ Igede, ONI, have condemned the crisis and urged the feuding parties to sheath their sword to avert looming anarchy in the state.

The leaders also appealed to the paramount rulers of the state to intervene in the matter by quickly summoning a summit to resolve the crisis.

In a statement by Chief Edward Ujege, President General of MUT, Adoya Amali, National President, OKI, and Ben Okpa, President General, ONI, the leaders decried the actions of the feuding parties regretting that “their behaviour does not indicate that they understand the objectives of their mandate, instead they are deviating from the expectations of the common Benue man.

“We therefore express our dismay and consequent disapproval of the spate of impeachment and suspension rocking between the executive arm of government and the legislative arm in the recent days.

“Our concern as leaders of Benue populace is that this negative development will not advance us. The security situation in Benue State which is gradually improving will also suffer a setback.

“The successes we are getting from the Operation Whirl Stroke may be slowed down. Our teaming farmers will be in confusion, the victims in the various IDP camps will have no hope of going back to their ancestral homes soon. Where do we go from here? We want to advise very strongly that the trend be reversed.

“We cannot allow this ugly situation to continue unduly. We want to warn here that our elected members must take the interest of the electorates at heart. The fight will not benefit the farmers and the people of Benue state in general.”

While condemning the occupation of the State Assembly by Police personnel, the leaders noted that “the process of law making is to disagree to agree and we have witnessed this in any legislative fora worldwide without the unnecessary interference of the police and other law enforcement agents. Benue case should therefore not be an exception.”

“We humbly call upon the President, Muhammadu Buhari, all other well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to intervene in the Benue case so that our land would not become a war zone.

“Also reports reaching us says that the senator representing Benue North West, Sen. George Akume has in collaboration with the Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Umaru Al-Makura have ordered the invasion of Benue State by thousands of cattle.

“We take exceptional objection to this kind of news; and we therefore call on Senator George Akume to come out and make a categorical statement on the allegation. He should also make sure that peace and tranquillity exit in Benue State.

“We are also calling on George Akume as a serving Senator and Chairman of Senate Committee on Army, Senator David Mark and Senator Barnabas Gemade and other Benue State representatives in the National Assembly to ensure that the Anti Open Grazing and Ranches establishment Law of 2017 is fully implemented.”