The coalition seeks Tinubu’s mediation in the Benue APC crisis

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE) has urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to investigate the crisis engulfing the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Benue State.

They also issued a seven-day ultimatum to Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia to handle the party’s political crisis or risk mass action.

Comr. Olayemi Success, the group’s national convener, issued a statement yesterday urging President Tinubu and the National Assembly to call the governor to order before it is too late.

They condemned the dismissal of the state party chairman, Austin Agada, and his replacement by a mere governor’s statement as undemocratic and provocative violations of the APC constitution.

He went on to say, “We equally issue a 7-day ultimatum to Gov. Alia to put his house in order and end the crisis in Benue, restoring peace and unity in the state; otherwise,  we shall mobilize a massive nationwide action calling for a state of emergency in Benue, so that a competent administrator be appointed to take charge of the situation.”

The statement went on to say that there have been outcries from our members across the country, particularly from Benue State, calling for civil society intervention before the situation in Benue explodes into a full-fledged national crisis and emergency, citing recent killings in the state that have affected both indigenes and non-indigenes, as well as drastically disrupting economic activities and even victimizing travelers along Federal Roads within the state.

“Benue rightfully prides itself as the Food Basket of the Nation. However, today it lives in the shadow of itself as a result of endless violence, thereby affecting farming activities and the production of essential food commodities to other parts of the country.

“The nation is in critical shape and cannot afford further reduction in National Productivity. Hence, our determination to raise our organisational voice against the Administration of Gov. Alia for plunging Benue into this crisis through undemocratic decisions and dictatorial tendencies.”