The former Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute, has urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to convene all-party elders to provide counsel on the leadership conflict in Benue State.
Ebute, who served as Senate president in the Third Republic, criticized three members of the Benue State National Assembly Caucus for attempting to divert the attention of Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr (Dr) Hycinth Alia, regarding the party leadership dispute in the state.
The APC in Benue State has faced turmoil due to the power struggle between Governor Alia and supporters of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
Senator Ebute highlighted that two senators from Zones A and B Senatorial Districts of Benue State, along with a Member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, have formed the so-called National Assembly Caucus, insinuating that the governor is rebuffing reconciliation efforts by President Bola Tinubu.
The former Senate President mentioned that the two Senators and a Member of the House of Representatives had their candidacies and election to the National Assembly endorsed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during his tenure as the party leader in Benue State.
“Having been elected to the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, I expect them to sponsor bills and carry out oversight functions that will lead to the development of their constituencies particularly and Nigeria generally.
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“I do not expect them to constitute themselves into a so-called National Assembly Caucus of only three (3) and distract the attention of the Benue State Chief Executive.
“In all states of the federation where a particular political party produces the governor, the governor is the leader of that party in the state.
“We, elders and party leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have advised the governor not to allow the sharing of party leadership functions with any other government official no matter how highly placed.
“It is not the issue of the governor respecting peace moves by the President, it is the issue of standing by the rules of the general practice of the presidential system of government whereby the president of the country is the ultimate leader of the party in the country, while governors are the leaders of the party in their states.
“Finally, I advise the National Leadership of the APC led by Dr Abdullahi Ganduje to invite all elders of APC, including me to advise them appropriately.”
This policy presents a serious risk to Nigeria’s aspirations for food security. Local farmers, competing against cheaper producers from Asia, Europe, and America, are forced to scale back or completely halt their farming activities. This endangers job opportunities, economic growth, and the sector’s future success, casting a cloud over Nigeria’s sustainability and progress.
“President Tinubu and his advisers would be wise to redirect their efforts towards crafting sustainable solutions to the systemic shocks afflicting the economy rather than compounding the crisis with measures destined to ignite further turmoil,” he said.
