…Accuses opposition of twisting governor’s remarks to incite chaos
Daniel Onjeh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, has cautioned political actors and media platforms against misrepresenting Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent comments on the worsening security situation in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Onjeh condemned what he described as a deliberate attempt by some politicians and media houses to twist Governor Alia’s remarks during his June 6 interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, warning that such distortions pose serious risks to the already fragile security environment in the state.
“The Governor’s remarks were clear and unambiguous,” Onjeh stated. “It is regrettable that some politicians and media outlets are taking his words out of context to score cheap political points.”
He clarified that Benue is currently battling two distinct types of insecurity—indigenous banditry perpetrated by local criminal groups, and violent invasions by foreign militias, allegedly of Fulani origin, with the intent to occupy ancestral lands.
Onjeh stressed that politicising or ethnicising the governor’s message diverts attention from the real threats and only serves to embolden criminal actors. He accused Governor Alia’s political detractors of exploiting the insecurity crisis in a bid to discredit and destabilise the APC-led government.
“They lost at the Appeal Panel that upheld the election of APC local government chairmen. They failed to hijack the House of Assembly. They even lobbied for the withholding of local government allocations. Now, they are trying to incite unrest and call for a state of emergency. It’s all part of a coordinated plan to remove Governor Alia through the back door,” he alleged.
Onjeh also called on the National Assembly to introduce more stringent penalties for terrorism and banditry, including life imprisonment or capital punishment, to serve as a deterrent.
“It is not enough to arrest criminals only for them to be released days later. This practice undermines public trust and discourages whistleblowers,” he warned.
The statement comes amid growing concerns over escalating violence and insecurity in various parts of Benue State.
Comments