A group, Benue Development Coalition (BENCO) has called President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating political crisis in Benue State.
It made the call in a letter signed by BENCO president Peter Gwa, which was addressed to the president and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday.
Gwa stressed the urgency of addressing the crisis and alleged persistent attempts by Senator George Akume’s loyalists to undermine the authority of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
He said the alleged attacks on the governor by members of the National Assembly and the State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have raised concerns about party’s stability in Benue.
Gwa alleged that Akume’s loyalists were planning to use the insecurity narrative, particularly related to herdsmen, to create unrest in the state.
He therefore appealed to President Tinubu to discourage any politicisation of insecurity and called for his intervention to prevent the looming destabilization of the party and state government.
He said governor Alia’s efforts to tackle insecurity were being undermined despite his commitment to enforcing anti-open grazing law and addressing insecurity.
The coalition claims an alliance between Akume and former Governor Samuel Ortom to destabilise Alia’s administration using insecurity as a major narrative.
Gwa further appealed for the President’s intervention to prevent further deterioration of the security situation in Benue State.
He also faulted the exclusion of the governor from making input into federal appointments from the state.
