Appointment of Special Adviser: Gov Alia disrespecting Benue Assembly – PDP

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has come under fire for his refusal to adhere to the ultimatum issued by the Benue State House of Assembly.

The ultimatum, which required the governor to appoint a Special Adviser on Security Matters within 72 hours, was handed down to him on October 24, 2023.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement by Bemgba Iortyom,
State Publicity Secretary, Benue State has strongly criticized the governor for ignoring the legislative directive.

He noted that as of today, nearly 200 hours have passed since the ultimatum’s expiration, and Governor Alia has remained silent on the matter, leaving the state without a Security Adviser at a time when security challenges, including banditry and terrorism, continue to worsen.

Statement reads below;

Recall that this ultimatum was handed to the governor by the Legislature on Tuesday, 24th October, 2023 at its plenary in line with its lawful powers to oversight him.

However, close to 200 hours after Governor Alia has not as much as said a word regarding the ultimatum, but continues to run the state without a Security Adviser to coordinate the fight against bandits and terrorists in the face of worsening insecurity.

The State Assembly on its part has yet to react to this snub by the governor and this PDP finds as an unacceptable abnegation of duty on the part of the legislature.

As we have consistently maintained, Governor Alia owes the people of Benue a duty of accountability and transparency in the handling of their affairs including security, and the refrain that he prefers to handle security matters discreetly is untenable as a defence under the present circumstances.

PDP insists that the governor must discharge this duty of accountability and transparency to the Legislature, which is the representative assembly of the people by complying with its ultimatum, as his continued refusal to do so amounts to vaunting himself above the law.

The House of Assembly on its part must rise up to its lawful duty as an institution responsible for ensuring the wellbeing and security of the people, by enforcing its powers to oversight Governor Alia in the face of his seeming intransigence.

The leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly must not lose sight of the erosion of their constitutionally vested powers which will be the consequence should it remain silent in the face of such brazen disregard for its lawful directives by the governor.

The role of a Special Adviser on Security to a Governor is of utmost critical importance the same way the National Security Adviser is to a President, and is usually among the first of appointments made.

He coordinates security agencies on behalf of the Governor for synergy in the fight against crime and insecurity, and his absence in an administration cannot be overlooked.

In the particular case of Benue where banditry and herdsmen terrorism are assuming such monstrous dimensions, with daily killings and kidnappings becoming the norm, the failure by Governor Alia to appoint a Security Adviser close to 6 months into office is inexplicable, even as he continues to make other appointments.

PDP cautions Governor Alia against continued disregard for the lawful directives of the Benue State House of Assembly as it amounts to subversion of the sovereign will of the people which is represented in the Assembly, even as we charge the Legislature to ensure this does not happen.