Face Your Collapsing Empire In Kano — Benue Govt Blasts Kwankwaso, Says He Has No Moral Right To Attack Alia

The Benue State Government has told former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to focus on his dwindling political fortunes in Kano and stop interfering in Benue affairs.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, in response to Kwankwaso’s comments on Alia.

Kwankwaso, who is now a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, had criticised Governor Alia over the recent incident involving Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, whose convoy was blocked by a mob while attempting to enter Benue State.

Kwankwaso described the incident as “unfortunate and unnecessary” and said Alia should not have allowed it to happen. He also said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume “brought Alia from the church,” adding that governors need to learn before assuming office.

But in a swift reaction, the Benue government described Kwankwaso’s remarks as an “unfortunate and unwarranted insult.”

“We understand his misplaced grudge against Governor Alia,” Kula said.

According to the government, Kwankwaso was angry because Peter Obi was brought into Benue without proper coordination, and then accused Alia of disrupting the visit.

“Obi’s drama was completely set up by those who are desperate to give Governor Alia a bad name, and if, up to this point, Kwankwaso is yet to understand that Obi was used, we are compelled to wonder whether he is truly a politician who understands the politics of this region,” Kula stated.

The Benue government had earlier denied prior knowledge of Obi’s visit and rejected allegations that it sponsored the mob that blocked his convoy.

Kula said Governor Alia, whom he described as a Reverend gentleman, was elected by the people of Benue and his mandate must be respected.

“Governor Alia, a Reverend gentleman, was elected by the people of Benue State, and his mandate should be respected by any sane citizen, regardless of political differences,” he said.

He also warned Kwankwaso to stop commenting on the relationship between Alia and Akume.

“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 Governor Alia and Senator George Akume, he should focus on the political challenges confronting him in Kano,” he said.

Kula said Kwankwaso’s party is struggling to find political footing in Kano and his influence is declining.

“The concerns surrounding his 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.”

He challenged the former governor to explain his party’s poor outing in recent by-elections in Kano.

“Kwankwaso should face Kano politics. He has enough to explain about why his party performed so abysmally in the last by-elections conducted in his state. He must respect the people’s mandate in Benue and offer ideas, not insults,” Kula added.