Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Namibia, Amb. Terhemen Tarzoor has raised the alarm over a threat to destabilise the administration of Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State.
Amb. Tarzoor, who raised the alarm while briefing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) House, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said credible information shows that some “malicious-minded people have mobilised financial resources to the tune of N2b for the purpose of destabilising the Alia-led administration. Their agenda to make the state ungovernable, according to the plot, will take effect from December 1, 2025.”
Two elected members of the National Assembly from the state have been “assigned the role of spokespersons of the evil-minded group,” Amb. Tarzoor alleged. He further alleged that the group has seven courses of action including to launch a vile campaign and propaganda against the Alia led administration by raising false alarm of financial impropriety, to undermine the accomplishment of the state government’s major contracts with particular reference to the Underpass Projects in Makurdi and Gboko and major road projects across the state, to lampoon the Governor about his transparency stand, and to mobilise the youth to stage violent anti-Alia protests in Makurdi, Gboko and other towns in the state with the view to dent the popularity profile of His Excellency Gov Alia.
Other courses of action, according to Amb. Tarzoor include to intensify media propaganda, especially on social media platforms against the Governor Alia led administration, to Send numerous petitions against key officials of the Alia led administration to the anti-graft agencies alleging corruption in the management of public resources, and to institute multiple court cases against key Government officials in the Alia led administration to distract them from effectively discharging their official duties and responsibilities.
“These and numerous other malicious plans form part of the destabilisation plot against our Governor by these enemies of the state,” Amb. Tarzoor said.
He mentioned the “wicked rumour about the health status of His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth lormem Alia,” and “the impeachment plot against the governor,” as some of the machinations of the plotters to destabilise the government.
“We condemn this plot in its entirety and warn these enemies of Benue State to desist from these ignoble acts before the wrath of the people of the State will visit them.
“Let it be known to them that we shall not fold our arms and watch anybody, no matter how highly placed, distract our Governor from the great work he is doing for the people of this state. To keep silent would be a betrayal of the masses, whom the Governor has consistently defended through his policies and programmes since he assumed office.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that we have details of all those who made the contributions and who is in custody of the “evil funds” and we will in due time expose these people and bring them to the court of public opinion as enemies of the people of Benue state.
“It is pathetic that elected representatives of the people, who have nothing to show for their freely-given mandate, other than the tokenisms they constantly, albeit begrudgingly display, would mobilise such humongous amounts of money, not for any developmental project but to ‘pull down the Governor of the people, Fr. Alia,'” Amb. Tarzoor cautioned.
