By PAUL ADAJI, Abuja –
A group of concerned Benue indigenes in the Diaspora, has thrown its weight behind Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, describing his emergence as gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections as the “ray of hope for the liberation of our state.”
The Alia Diaspora Support Group, with its membership spread across the globe, in a statement at the weekend, however expressed serious worry over the unnecessary delay in the choice of Fr Alia’s running mate, warning that this could negatively affect the chances of the APC gubernatorial flagbearer in next year’s election.
The statement, signed by the conveners of the Diaspora group, Mr. Smith Efada Dr. Abraham Tartenger Girgih titled “’We can’t breathe’…Benue people speak on REV. Fr. ALIA and the Benue emancipation project,” was made available to NATIONAL ACCORD on Saturday.
It reads:
“We the concerned Benue citizens in the diaspora spread across the globe have observed the palpable hope and excitement that greeted the emergence of Re. Fr. Alia as a gubernatorial candidate. We identify with this movement and rejoice at the ray of hope for the liberation of our dear state.
“The street acceptability of the candidate and his track record offers great relief and is a stark departure from the past.
“We have however observed the unusual delay in the announcement of a running mate and the ensuing drama surrounding the nomination. The social media space has been awash with insinuation of the selection of a particular individual only for others to refute the claims. More disturbing is the anarchy and confusion being bred by the continued manoeuvre by different political blocks while the public look on helplessly.
“In all of this, it is the mandate of Fr. Alia and the poor Benue people that will bear the brunt of a wrong decision. The people of Zone C are understandably upset at the reported lack of consultation before the selection of persons to positions zoned to them. The brewing crisis is completely unnecessary and must be resolved in the interest of the party and good people of Benue.
“The reason for the unrest and threat is the desire of powerful people within the party to impose a running mate on the Reverend gentleman. The Benue people recognise this familiar trend and wish to unequivocally say the imposition of a deputy on the candidate will dilute the trust reposed on the mandate and will be resisted. These powerful interest within the APC do not mean well for Benue. The divine mandate of Fr. Alia should not be allowed to be diluted by the machinations of man.
“The APC is blessed to have the person of Fr. Alia in its ranks and is poised to take over leadership in Benue. We must not joke with this mandate and the meddlesome attitude of leaders within its ranks must be curtailed. We want to remind these actors of the abysmal electoral outing in 2019 and the events leading up to the failure of the party.
“Fr. Alia is the game changer in Benue politics and we must protect this movement until it delivers result in 2023. The party hierarchy is hereby strongly advised to allow Fr Alia to select a deputy in consultation with credible Zone C leadership. Benue people are tired of the recycling of people by this group to the detriment of the development of the state. They have literally sucked the air out of Benue and the state is crying out ” we can’t breathe.’
“We must never allow the issue of deputy governor to dim the chances of the ‘Yes Father’ movement or cause disaffection in Zone C and neither can we allow a group hijack the peoples mandate.
“Rev Fr must be allowed to choose his deputy and be given room to operate without undue influence. Precedence has shown that every other candidate from the Presidential races to state have been given the prerogative to choose their running mates.
“Benue needs to breathe.”
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