From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) elders, under the aegis of G14 and G9, have admonished the elders forum of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to embrace, support and promote peace which are necessary for societal stability.
G14 includes elders of the PDP from the 14 Tiv speaking LGAs of the state while G9 include elders of the party who hails from nine LGs from the Benue South Senatorial District.
The group gave the advice while responding to the recent developments in the state naming the verbal attack on the Senate Minority Leader by the APC elders on Sen Abba Moro, the purported removal of the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese and the suspension of 13 members of the House of Assembly some of who are of the PDP.
Addressing newsmen in Makurdi, on Thursday, the Chairmen of G14 and G9, Dr. Laha Dzever and Chief Elisha Amali respectively, who condemned the APC elders for criticize the “unassailable position of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro,” said his statements are firmly rooted in the rule of law and established democratic principles and needed to be praised.
“We implore the APC elders to note that the blessing of age, experience and eldership bestowed upon us a responsibility in words and in tone of language, to be more conciliatory than adversarial, to be more accommodating than combative and to be more measured than vituperative in speech.
“The primary concern of elders is to embrace, support and promote peace which are necessary for societal stability currently desires in our dear state, Benue. It is un-elderly to do otherwise.
“We therefore advise that those in positions of authority should act with decorum and responsibility to promote genuine development, progress and prosperity for the entire people of Benue State.”
The elders urged the APC led government of Governor Hyacinth Alia to focus on delivering good governance based on the rule of law and security of the people.
The elders said “We consider the attempt by the APC elders to denigrate Senator Morro as another needless wild goose chase that must be roundly condemned.
“All responsible Benue citizens must agree that the position of Senator Aba Morro, backed by the inter-party members of the Benue caucus of the national assembly is firmly rooted in the rule of law and justice.”
On the suspension of some members of the House of Assembly, the group said, “we are concerned that actions of the Benue State House of Assembly are worrisome. This amounts to legislative recklessness.
“We advise a return to status quo. The suspended members of the Benue State House of Assembly, members many of whom are PDP members are representatives of their various constituencies and must be allowed to diligently discharge their duties as the voices and aspirations of the hundreds of thousands of the people they represent. Their suspension remains an anomaly and an aberration within the ambit of democratic conventions.”
The group also, noted that the judiciary as a separate arm of government and a corner stone of democracy must not be diluted with politics adding that any attempt to do so threatens the very fabric of democracy.