From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Forum of Concerned Former Members of the Benue State House of Assembly from the All Progressives Congress, (APC), has called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to unite and restore peace in Benue APC family for the overall development of the state.
The chairman of the forum and former speaker of the 6th and 7th State Assembly, Barr Dave Iorhemba, made this call at a press conference in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday.
Iorhemba said the former members of the state assembly from the APC have observed with concern the crisis in the party and especially the frosty relationship between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Senator George Akume.
While they described the crisis as unhealthy and causing the polarization of the party, the forum urged the governor to rebuild the relationship within the party and with representatives at the federal level.
The forum which passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the APC under the SGF, Senator George Akume and the chairmanship of Comrade Austin Agada, called on those involved in flinging derogatory remarks, uncomplimentary language and innuendoes at the person of the SGF to desist forthwith saying all party members should be working together for a greater Benue.
Iorhemba who was flanked by other members of the forum at the conference, urged the governor to take proactive steps to stem the tide of herders/farmers crisis bedeviling the state.
“We, however, commend the governor’s zeal and efforts at upgrading infrastructural development in his quest to give Benue State a facelift which admittedly has been neglected for too long.”
The former members thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Sen George Akume as SGF and further called on Governor Alia to restore peace in Benue and form a synergy with national assembly members from the state and other appointees of president Tinubu at the federal level to attract more democratic dividends to the state.