Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State yesterday fired back at the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, urging him to face Kano politics and stop interfering into Benue politics.
Governor Alia was reacting to Kwankwaso’s comment on the intractable political animosity between him and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Kwankwaso had described the dispute as “Unfortunate and unnecessary” and accused Governor Alia of “Acting out of desperation”.
But in a swift reaction, Governor Alia, via his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, described Kwankwaso’s comment as “an unfortunate and unwarranted insult” that does little to advance constructive political discourse.
Governor Alia said that he understands Kwankwaso’s misplaced grudge against him, which he said “is primarily because his principal, Mr Peter Obi, was sneaked into Benue State without proper coordination, after which he falsely accused the Governor of disrupting the visit”.
Governor Alia said that “Obi’s drama was completely set up by those who are desperate to give him a bad name”, stressing that “if up to this point, Kwankwaso is yet to understand that Obi was used, the state government is compelled to wonder whether he is truly a politician who understands the politics of the region”.
Governor Alia noted that he, being a Reverend gentleman, was elected by the people of Benue State, and his mandate should be respected by any sane citizen of the country, regardless of political differences.
He further said, “Someone needs to tell the former Governor of Kano State that, rather than interfering in Benue’s internal affairs or making unfounded claims about the relationship between him and Senator George Akume, he should focus on the political challenges confronting him in Kano State.
“The concerns surrounding his (Kwankwaso’s) party’s difficulty in finding political footing and his fast-declining political influence there deserve his attention more than personal attacks on another state’s governor.
“Kwankwaso should be advised to stop insulting the sensibilities of Benue people, as the people are capable of judging their government and deciding their political future.
“Kwankwaso should face Kano politics. He has enough to explain why his party performed abysmally in the last by-elections conducted in his state.
“He must respect the people’s mandate in Benue and offer ideas, not insults”, Alia stated.
