Benue PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom
By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue state has accused the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia of allegedly colluding with his allies in Abuja over reported plan to settle Fuani herdsmen on lands they displaced people from in Benue.
In statement signed by PDP’s state publicity secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, the party said, “the state do not need a Fulani colony, and would resist with every lawful available means, attempts by governor Hyacinth Alia to smuggle into the state a Fulani colony”.
The state PDP alleged that Governor Alia has a hand in the decision by the Federal government which listed Benue as one of the states to benefit from a 1000 housing project. Adding that, “there is more darkness in the planned housing project which has every trappings of a Fulani community.
A spokesman to the Vice President Kashim Shettima last week said President Tinubu has approved the construction of 1,000 houses in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states with facilities such as schools, clinics, veterinary clinics and ranches for the Fulani community.
Vice President Shettima argued that the establishment of the settlement was part of a broad plan by the federal government to address the conflicts in the Northern part of the country.
In a swift reaction to the allegations by the PDP, Kula Tersoo, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor of the state, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia described the allegations raised by PDP, as false and urged the people of the state to disregard it.
In a statement he signed and made available to The AUTHORITY newspaper in Makurdi Monday, Kula said, “our attention is drawn to a story making headlines on the social media that Governor Hyacinth Alia, has included Benue on the list of states to get Fulani colonies. The story is false and should be disregarded.“
It is a burning desire of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the present administration to return IDPs back to their homes, as soon as possible.
“However, since most of their (IDPs) houses have been destroyed by the gun-carrying marauding herders, the federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has agreed to sponsor the reconstruction of new homes for our IDPs. The homes are to be built in cluster formats, enabling our people to live more closely with each other and to experience more stability.
“Be rest assured that in Benue, the homes are for our people and not for any colony, whatsoever. Benue people should know that Governor Hyacinth Alia will not do anything that will undermine the goodwill he has gotten from the wonderful people of the state.
“The governor means well for the people of the state and as such, will always put them first”, he assured.
However, the spokesman of the PDP insisted that “It is no longer news that the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled administration of President Bola Tinubu has earmarked Benue as one among a few states where a federal government-sponsored settlement for Fulani herdsmen is to be established.
Mr. Iortyom pointed out that, “It is inhuman to even contemplate settling those oppressors in comfort while their victims are languishing in hellish conditions, and this amounts to thumbing up criminality while rubbing the nose of the victim into his blood spilled by the oppressor.
