NEWS
Benue APC Shuns National Reconciliation Committee, Suspends State Chairman
From Attah Ede Makurdi
The Benue State Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Austin Agada has been suspended following allegation of anti party activities levelled against him.
Comrade Agada’s suspension is coming barely 24 hours after the National Reconciliation Committee from the party’s national secretariat met the state governor, Hyacinth Alia and the state leadership of the party in Makurdi on Tuesday.
The Executive Committee of the party in Ehaje Ward 1 Owukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state, where the embattled state chairman hails from, led by the ward chairman, Godwin Abah announced the suspension of the chairman yesterday.
The ward exco at a press conference in Makurdi, passed a no confidence vote on Agada and further imposed suspension on him for total disregard for the disciplinary committee set up to investigate allegations against him.
They said their action followed a petition by a party member and Senatorial Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Comrade Daniel Onjeh alleging anti party activities against Agada.
They said, “APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo received the petition by Comrade Dan Onjeh on the 23rd of January, 2024 and immediately based on our party constitution set up a disciplinary committee same day by the Ward Exco.
“This is in accordance with our party constitution powers vested in the Ward Exco pursuant to Article 13.14 sub section Vii and Article 21. 1 sub section 1 & ii.
“The APC Ehaje Ward 1 disciplinary committee having sat and invited Hon. Augustine Agada, the APC Benue State Chairman from January 24 to 29, 2024, who is a card-carrying party member of the ward, blatantly refused, ignored and disrespected the disciplinary committee by refusing to attend nor communicate back with the committee.
“The disciplinary committee having exhausted its patience, and based on the strength and irrefutable facts tendered in the petition with CTC of bank statement tendered, oral evidence given by party members in the ward, drew its conclusion and submitted its findings and report back to the APC Ehaje Ward 1 Expanded Exco.”
They said after reviewing the petition and subsequently finding merit in it, immediately passed a vote of No Confidence on Agada.
The Ward Exco said, “[We] found the State Party Chairman guilty of Anti-Party Activities in the ward and the Southern Senatorial District zone of Benue State (Zone C).
“That the State Party Chairman Comrade Augustine Agada Is found guilty of all charges brought before APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa and so has been suspended by the Ward where he is a member of the party.”
They urged Agada to stop parading himself as a member of the party in the ward and also as the Benue State Party Chairman in line with the party constitution as stipulated.
The eight Ward Exco members said Agada was found to have indulged in political malfeasance, embarrassment and disrepute.
The suspension they said was “To instill discipline and foster unity and generally to serve as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators of anti-party activities.
“This suspension takes immediate effect from today Wednesday 31st of January, 2024.”.
In his reaction, Agada said he still remains the chairman of APC in Benue state.
He said Godwin Abah is not his ward chairman but Peter Onoja, adding that Abah is the current supervisory councilor of works in the LG having been replaced in Dec. 2023.
He said Ward Exco are 27 in number and the document suspending him was signed by only eight people who were not officials of the party.
Agada who described his suspension as null and void urged the governor to use his office and wield the big stick and call them to order before they destroy the party and his administration by extension.
Curiously, this suspension came at a time that the reconciliation committee instituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party came and pronounced Governor Hyacinth Alia, as the only duly recognized leader of the party in the state.
The reconciliation committee at the meeting, said they decided to clear the air following the leadership tussle between the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and the governor of Benue State on who controls the party in the state.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the committee’s meeting, Governor Alia said he was happy that the leadership of the party took their time to come to the state to ensure the return of peace in the party.
He assured, “The meeting has resolved everything, putting to rest all the anxieties. The outcome of the meeting as it is, has brought happiness on the faces of the great men and women in the party, and the party is going to turn a new leaf, which suspends anything that was drawing us back.
“The state can now look forward to the gains the meeting will bring, especially with me as the governor and the SGF, Senator George Akume, at the federal level.”
Earlier, the Deputy National Secretary of APC, Festus Fuanter, who led the reconciliation team from the National Secretariat said they were in the state to ensure the return of peace in the party.
He described the meeting as one amongst many, which the NWC of APC has arranged for all the zones in the country to ensure there is absolute peace, especially in states where there appears to be internal wrangling.
Last night, a statement from the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka said Agada remains the Benue State APC chairman.
It directed that all matters be set aside pending further review of the purported suspension of Agada by party executive in his Ehaje Ward 1, Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.
The statement therefore, said Agada remains a bonafide member and the chairman of the party in the state.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”
By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.
There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.
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