Governor Hyacinth Alia The Benue State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the mode of governance being ran by the Executive Governor of the State, Hyacinth Alia with the allegation that the Governor is not following due process in the course of ruling the state.
Bemgba Iortyom, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP in Benue State stated that Governor Alia has violated the constitution of Nigeria by awarding contract without following laid down principle.
PDP also condemned Gov Alia for failing to constitute his Executive Cabinet within stipulated time.
The press statement released by the Benue State chapter of the PDP reads "Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State raises the alarm that Governor Hyacinth Alia has suspended constitutional rule in the state and is running the government under his watch as a dictatorship.
"We hereby emphasize the duty placed on all men of good conscience to rise up and resist with every lawful means this danger looming over the state.
"Yesterday Governor Alia announced the award of contracts for the construction of 16 township roads in Makurdi the sum for which he did not disclose, but which obviously runs into billions of naira, by current cost standards.
"This is in addition to a contract earlier awarded by the governor for the renovation of the State Assembly Complex, the sum for which he also did not disclose, but which should be in the region of a billion naira.
"After 71 days in office Governor Alia had not even forwarded names of nominees for appointment into a cabinet as commissioners or Advisers, this too in gross violation of Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended by the Fifth Alteration No. 23 of 2023) which demands that he submit names of nominees for screening and confirmation as commissioners to be appointed into his cabinet within 60 days of his taking oath of office.
"Since assumption of office on May 29, 2023 up to this moment the governor has placed all financial accounts of the state government in various banks under a state of freeze, and he alone makes withdrawals from and closes them as he deems fit.
"By the award of those contracts yesterday, the Benue State Governor has violated provisions of BENUE STATE FINANCIAL INSTRUCTIONS which state unambiguously in Chapter 23, Section 2305 that the spending limit and approval permitted the governor in respect of contracts shall, in all requests not exceed N50,000,000.00 (fifty million naira).
"Furthermore, the procedure for processing biddings for contracts for subsequent awards to qualified contractors is laid down elaborately in the Benue State Public Procurement Law and involves the mandatory participation of a State Executive Council which the governor has up to this moment failed to constitute.
"PDP understands that Governor Alia is inclined to discharging the business of government as a sole administrator, a despot, a dictator, under a system not regulated by due process and rule of law, but which permits him unlimited powers.
"This, our great party will lead the charge in resisting through all lawful means, to safeguard the sanctity of democratic system of government which is in practice in Nigeria and Benue State.
"PDP will resist the budding dictatorship being incubated by Governor Alia in Benue State.
Although Governor Alia has today transmitted names of 14 commissioners nominees, 17 Special Advisers and 24 Special Assistants to the State House of Assembly.
Category: World-News
Tag: PDP Benue Hyacinth Alia
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 8/8/2023 11:33:48 PM