…Aondoakaa: Your govt has exhausted ideas, now searching for scapegoats to showcase catastrophic failure
As the ongoing insecurity turmoil in Benue State continues to worsen, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Wednesday accused the governorship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Herman Iorwase Hembe, of being the major actors sponsoring political violence in the state to create political advantage.
Benue has been a theatre of killings by armed militants in recent times, as no week passes without any report of the killing of innocent people of the state.
Local government areas worst affected by these incidents include: Ohimini, Otukpo, Agatu, Okpokwu, Makurdi, Gwer-West, Kwande, Guma and Apa, among others.
The resumption of killings has forced many inhabitants out of their ancestral homes, with scores of farmers taking refuge in designated Internally Displaced Persons Camps.
Governor Alia, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, expressed serious concern over the ongoing weaponisation of recent armed herders’ attacks on farming communities in Benue State. He specifically criticised opposition figures, notably the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, and Herman Hembe, for exploiting these incidents for narrow partisan political gain.
“It is, rather, a betrayal of our civic decency and national conscience for these groups to continue exploiting the suffering of children, women, elders, and ordinary families for partisan headlines.
“As a matter of fact, if, as some have insinuated, there are actors sponsoring violence to create political advantage, we strongly urge the relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate such allegations, including any claims involving Michael Kaase Aondoakaa of the PDP and Herman Hembe of the Labour Party.
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“‎We condemn, in the strongest terms, this irresponsible act”.
The governor stated that his administration stands with the victims and survivors, and remains committed to working towards truth, justice, and lasting peace in Benue State.
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‎However, Chief Aondoakaa, in a swift reply to Alia’s invectives, said the governor “has exhausted ideas and is now searching for scapegoats to explain his catastrophic failure to protect the lives and property of Benue people”.
The legal luminary, in a statement by his media aide, Mr James Ian, stated that “it is shameful that a government under whose watch communities are repeatedly invaded, farmers displaced, and innocent people killed now considers criticism of its woeful performance a greater threat than the criminals unleashing terror across the state.
“Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has done nothing more than exercise his constitutional right, and indeed his moral obligation, to demand greater commitment from those who receive huge monthly security votes and are entrusted with the safety of Benue people. In every functioning democracy, governments are held accountable for their performance.
“The attempt to portray legitimate criticism as sponsorship of violence is not only irresponsible but dangerously reckless. If the Benue State Government possesses any credible evidence against Chief Aondoakaa or any other citizen, it should present such evidence to the appropriate authorities instead of engaging in media trials and political propaganda”.
Alluding to Governor Alia’s claim that his administration has provided logistics, intelligence, motivation and coordination for security agencies, Chief Aondoakaa questioned, “If those efforts have been so effective, why do attacks continue with frightening regularity? Why are communities still being overrun? Why are thousands of Benue people unable to return safely to their ancestral homes?
The PDP governorship candidate said he won’t be intimidated into silence, but will continue to speak for displaced farmers, grieving families, frightened communities and every Benue man and woman who believes that government exists first and foremost to protect lives.
