Benue govt blasts Jime for calling Gov Alia ‘this thing’

The Benue State Government has launched a fresh attack on former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime, describing his recent apology for referring to Governor Hyacinth Alia as “this thing” as insincere and inadequate.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, said Jime’s apology fell short of the standards expected of a former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and two-term member of the National Assembly.

Kula argued that a sincere apology should have been directed specifically to Governor Alia and the people of Benue State, rather than being broadcast generally to those who may have found the comment offensive.

“The apology offered by Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime for calling his own Governor ‘this thing’ is, by every standard, an insincere apology,” Kula said.

He maintained that Jime had yet to apologise directly to the governor and the people of the state, insisting that the statement issued by the former lawmaker did not adequately address the gravity of the remark.

The governor’s aide questioned the rationale behind Jime’s comments, noting that Makurdi Local Government Area, Jime’s home council, had benefited significantly from projects executed by the Alia administration over the past three years.

According to Kula, it was unclear whether the governor’s infrastructural projects in Makurdi or Jime’s alleged political frustrations ahead of the 2027 elections informed the controversial remark.

“Is it the roads Governor Hyacinth Alia has constructed in Makurdi that earned him the label of a ‘terrorist’ in Jime’s estimation, or is Jime simply piqued by his inability to secure a senatorial ticket ahead of the 2027 elections?” he queried.

Kula further stated that regardless of political disagreements, public office holders and former public officials owe the office of the governor the respect and dignity it deserves.

He noted that Jime, given his political experience and understanding of governance, should have exercised restraint in his choice of words.

The governor’s spokesman said the apology issued by Jime, in which he expressed regret over what he described as the “characterisation” of the governor, failed to directly acknowledge the governor and the people of Benue as the injured parties.

“We demand that Jime apologise specifically to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the people of Benue State, not only to ‘some of you who found that offensive’,” Kula stated.