The African Action Congress (AAC) has called on Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to stop shifting blame to "Abuja politicians" for the escalating violence in the state and instead take full responsibility as the state's Chief Security Officer.
Robert Ande, the AAC Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and human rights activist, made this call in a statement released on Monday, criticizing Governor Alia's recent allegations that high-ranking politicians in Abuja and the National Assembly were orchestrating the violent killings across Benue State.
During an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today last Friday, Governor Alia had described the situation as "very unsettling" and attributed the crisis to political interests, stating it was his duty to protect citizens despite ongoing sabotage.
Leadership Failures and Inaction
Ande described the Alia administration as plagued by "inaction, incompetence, and lack of strategic direction." He pointed out that governors in similarly volatile regions have implemented proactive measures to protect their citizens, including deploying local vigilantes, forming civilian joint task forces, enhancing intelligence networks, and engaging federal authorities.
"The Governor's blame game is a coward's game, and it's time for him to step up and lead," Ande stated. "While it may be correct that other politicians should also speak out and act, when did silence from Abuja become a justification for failure in Benue, as some of Alia's cabinet members insist?"
The AAC chairman also condemned members of Alia's cabinet who justify government inaction by pointing to silence from federal authorities, describing such arguments as weak and counterproductive.
Criticism of SGF George Akume
Ande also directed criticism at Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, a prominent Benue indigene, for his "deafening silence" on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in his home state and across the Middle Belt region.
"Your past actions, where you politicised the killings in Benue State, are proving to be misguided and mischievous to many Nigerians today," Ande said, addressing Akume. "Since you accepted and tagged the killings of Benue people as 'political' during Ortom's tenure, does Governor Alia's current outcry, also tagging these killings 'political,' now seem correct?"
Call for Concrete Action
The AAC chairman challenged both Governor Alia and SGF Akume to rise above political differences and commit to concrete solutions to address the security crisis. He outlined specific actions both leaders should take:
For Governor Alia:
- Stop blaming Abuja and take responsibility for state security
- Use his office to initiate arrests, push for security reinforcements, and demand justice
- Develop a comprehensive plan to address the crisis, including support for displaced persons
For SGF Akume:
- Publicly condemn the ongoing violence and killings
- Work with the state governor on a comprehensive response plan
- Use his federal position to ensure concrete steps to protect lives and property
"The leadership vacuum in Benue State is a crisis that demands immediate attention," Ande concluded. "The people of Benue and the Middle Belt will not forget their actions or inactions. It's time to act now."
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