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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The lingering crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State may soon take another twist, as a group, under the auspices of Alliance for Good Governance, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia, of sidelining and humiliating some lawmakers perceived to be loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Sen. George Akume.
The group made the allegation in a statement by its National Coordinator and Secretary, Jide Sanwo and Kenneth Nwaokocha, respectively.
It claimed that some lawmakers loyal to the SGF have been denied constituency allowance and official vehicles since they were elected.
But, Governor Alia has dismissed the group, saying he had reached an agreement with the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the group has threatened to mobilise citizens of the constituency of the affected lawmakers to protest what they termed injustice against the lawmakers.
It alleged that the governor has decided to deny some lawmakers of their constituency allowance amounting to N30 million each, as well as official vehicles.
“Constituency allowance is for constituents’ benefits and not for legislators’ personal emoluments but to address socio-economic challenges, development interest and other sundry issues of the constituents,” the group noted.
It said while lawmakers were elected to make laws for the good of their constituents, they also need to provide dividends of democracy to their constituents.
“They need to provide things such as addressing hydra headed security challenges, construction of feeder roads, provision of potable water and drilling of borehole, building culverts and schools, repairing and fixing of dilapidated infrastructure, assisting and supporting the poor and the vulnerable, the orphans and the widows, among others.
“In addition, six members of the group tagged, ‘Akume boys,’ are yet to be given their official cars after over one year of their inauguration and no allowances paid to foot their transportation bills for them to carry out their oversight functions.
“We have the capacity to mobilise citizens of the affected constituencies on a march in the state capital to demand for the release of the allowances of affected lawmakers,” the statement said.
The Governor, who spoke through his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, said he carried all members of the state assembly along.
“If anything is happening, it’s for a reason and I am sure the lawmakers also understand, that is the reason none of them has raised any eyebrows.
“So, if anyone is speaking from outside, why are they crying more than the bereaved? The governor and the lawmakers have reached an agreement.”
Also responding, the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Saater Tiseer attributed the delay in procurement of enough vehicles to lawmakers to the autonomy of the State Assembly.
He explained that the Assembly got its autonomy after the 2024 budget had been passed, saying that the allocation for the assembly could not meet some of its obligations after payment of salary, adding that the Governor had promised to include all issues in the 2025 budget.
“No member has received N30 million as constituency project, though, what each member received varies; some N15 million, some N10 million, but we are engaging the governor to do all these things. The shortfall is as a result of autonomy that the house got after the 2024 budget was passed.
“On vehicles, we are 32 members, and the vehicles brought were not up to that. Seven members are yet to get their official vehicles; also the speaker still needs a vehicle.”
He said: “There is no discrimination in the sharing of vehicles, even the member who contested the speakership with the speaker and most of those who voted her have received their official vehicles.”
