A youth group of Benue descent residents in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Benue state governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, to recall the state All Progressives Congress, (APC), party chairman, Austin Agada, following his alleged unwarranted removal.
Under the auspices of NEPAD Youth for Democracy, the group said unless Agada is restored, they will mobilize their members in hundreds of thousands for a national protest at the State House Abuja and National Assembly to demand the restoration of constitutional order and peace in Benue State in the next three days.
Spokesman of the group, Oscar David-Kalu, made this known at a press conference, in Abuja.
He said the governor by his recent actions, is inciting a political crisis that is now further fuelling violence across Benue following his allege unwarranted and unconstitutional removal of one of the youngest and most vibrant party Chairman in Nigeria.
“The NEPAD Youth group is issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to governor Alia to retract all actions that have led to the crisis,” David-Kalu said.
“The unwarranted and unconstitutional removal of one of the youngest and vibrant Party Chairman in Nigeria today, in person of Comrade Austin Agada, was a major contributor to the crisis in the State.
“The Chairmanship tussle and dictatorial attitude, with gross disregard of laid down conventions, traditions and relevant laws as the crux of the matter, and not the accusing fingers being pointed at the party leader senator George Akume by the governor.”
He warned that “As a youth-serving organisation, we firmly stand by our own and outrightly condemn that action by the governor in its totality and urgently demand the immediate remediation of the Chairmanship of APC in Benue to the rightful occupant, else we shall mobilize a national protest at the State House Abuja and National Assembly to demand restoration of constitutional order and peace in Benue State.”
“As it stands today, Benue State is suffocating under the watch of governor Alia with continuous crisis, violence and distruction of innocent lives and valuable property, which the governor promised to put to an end during his campaigns.
“We are beginning to doubt the competence and capacity of the governor to satisfactorily manage the political interests and affairs of the state, which requires remarkable skills and tact.”
He described as ugly and avoidable, the party crisis in Benue state noting that governor Alia was guilty of inciting the political crisis leading to sour relationship between him and Senator George Akume, the state party leader.
According to him, the leadership of APC in Benue has never been in contention as senator Akume has always stood tall like a father figure and leader of APC in the state.
“In same manner that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is seen as the national leader of APC, during the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and equally viewed as political leader and father of democracy in Lagos State, so is Senator Akume seen in Benue state..
“President Buhari during his government wisely and rightfully declared and worked with Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the national leader of APC, despite the fact that President Buhari was the sitting President and Tinubu was not even in government then.
“You see, leadership is earned over time and not by force. One’s roles and impact in a system and lives of the people for a sustained period determine your acceptability as a leader, hence, anyone undermining or going against the towering leadership of senator George Akume in Benue is simply offending both God and man.
“How can a democrat and clergy leader completely place a ban on political activities in a state and promote primitive and divisive agenda within a party that he rode onto power.
“We are aware of the rising discontent across the country over the situation in the State, and the increasing opinion for a call for state of emergency in Benue.”
