Governor Alia of Benue State must not replace democracy in Benue State with repugnant autocracy

By Agena Robert Ande

The Directive by State Government to all the Local Government Council Authorities in the State to issue a total BAN ON ELECTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF ALL ASSOCIATIONS (including Student Unions, NURTW, OKADA unions, Keke Napep Unions, Community Development Unions, Social Clubs and Associations, Women Groups, Age Grades, Religious Associations, Alumni Associations, Old boys/Girls Associations, Political Parties, etc) in the State is shocking, condemnable and totally unacceptable as it is highly authoritarian and undemocratic.
It is becoming sadly clear that the Administration in Benue State instead of emplacing and executing pivotal development Policies and Programmes which the State and it’s People are in dire berd of, such as Agricultural mechanization, Industrialisation of the landscape and Human resource development, etc, towards re-building the State and harnessing its natural resources and hunan potential for its desirable transformation, is rather focused on pushing back the tenets and institutions of Democracy in the state to oblivion.

The Directive by State Government to all the Local Government Council Authorities in the State to issue a total BAN ON ELECTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF ALL ASSOCIATIONS (including Student Unions, NURTW, OKADA unions, Keke Napep Unions, Community Development Unions, Social Clubs and Associations, Women Groups, Age Grades, Religious Associations, Alumni Associations, Old boys/Girls Associations, Political Parties, etc) in the State is shocking, condemnable and totally unacceptable as it is highly authoritarian and undemocratic.

This is especially so given the fact that there was absolutely no cogent reason for this repugnant Directive, as these bodies are Entities carrying out their statutory activities within the ambits of the Law and contributing their veritable quota to social cohesion, inclusion, development and advancement of Democracy.

This illegal directive is causing serious confusion and creating atmosphere of frustration and anger. It has therefore become imperative that well meaning Statesmen and Women intervene in this matter to nip any potential negative reactions from this in the bud. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, should immediately call the Benue State Governor, Fr Hyacinth Alia to order and prevail on him to rightly allow freedom of Association of Citizens of Benue as guaranteed them by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and of which is also a globally recognized Fundamental Right.

This is therefore also a clarion call to the Human Rights community to beam its searchlight on BENUE State Government, to prevent a total relapse into state-sponsored anarchy.

We need to preach to our dear Reverend Father Governor to be able to distinguish constitutional democracy from Church Parish Administration.

We refuse to bow to any form of oppresion as a people and justice must be served. Benue State can never be the Headquarters of oppresion in Nigeria.

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