Members of the Benue state caucus in the National Assembly yesterday rose from an emergency meeting accusing the state Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia of abuse of power in breach of laid down rules and regulations.

At a press conference at the national Assembly complex in Abuja, the caucus picked offence with the Governor for allegedly taking unilateral decision on appointments of government functionaries at both the state and local council levels without consulting with critical stakeholders of the party in the state.
Led by Senator Titus Zam Tartenger, the caucus particularly accused the Governor of not only running the state like a parish, but expending monies from the state purse in breach of due process.

Calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to wade into the matter, the lawmakers warned that the state would suffer bad governance if the situation persist.

They noted: “Governor Hyacinth Alia since assumption of duty has not held any meeting with NASS members of Benue State who were elected on the same APC platform with him neither does he pick or return their telephone calls not to talk about consulting them on political matters in the State.

” He has assumed the posture of a conqueror who does not care about the welfare, nor status of National Assembly Members in his leadership of Benue State. In every State of the federation members of NASS are working in synergy with their governors to attract development from the centre to their State of origin.

“Governor Alia has no single known developmental blue print for Benue State. As at the moment, nobody in Benue State is aware of the direction of his administration, what he practices is personal rule and this is replicated by the lopsided appointment he has made in the State so far, with his immediate community of Kunav cornering all the strategic positions in government.
“The grave consequences of Governor Alia personal rule is that, the generality of APC members who are excluded and abandoned are beginning to lose faith in the APC led administration in Benue State.
“Therefore, care must be taken to safeguard APC from the tyrannical leadership of Governor Alia so as to prepare the party for subsequent electoral victories in the future. Governor Alia’s street showmanship of non-existent huge support base is not predicated on a substantive love of a massive street followers, does not translate to the real political support which only leaders can guarantee.”