*Allegation untrue – govt

BY PETER DURU

MAKURDI – A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Orker Jev, has accused Benue State Government of allegedly victimizing paramount rulers and local council workers in his constituency for voting his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, at the last general elections.

Jey who represents Buruku Federal Constituency in the House regretted that the leadership of Buruku local government area and Suswam’s aides were colluding to humiliate suspected supporters of ACN in the area, adding that the situation was repugnant to the ideals of democracy.

Addressing newsmen in Makurdi, the lawmaker alleged that the caretaker Chairman of Buruku Local Government Chairman, Mr. Isaac Mffo allegedly connived with the Governor’s Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to victimize over 100 staff and more than 30 traditional rulers whom they labelled as ACN sympathizers and refused to pay them their salaries.

He said: It took the intervention of the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE at the council to impress it upon the chairman to pay  salaries of the affected staff.

Jev, however, lamented that the traditional rulers were suffering as their salaries have remained withheld on the grounds that they were responsible for the defeat of the PDP in Buruku.

He said: “As I speak to you, 27 traditional rulers in Buruku have been placed on suspension and their salaries withheld since April”. warning however that those affected would seek legal redress, “if the rights of these frail and hapless old men who are being turned into scapegoats by desperate politicians is trampled upon”.

However, in a swift reaction, Special Adviser to Suswam on Chietaincy Matters, Solomon Wombo dismissed Jey’s claims as untrue.