Benue PDP Reps reject calls for emergency rule

Members of the Benue People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives have rejected the calls for emergency rule in the State.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, spokesman of the Caucus, Mark Gbilah said that rather than the emergency rule as canvassed by Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume, the Federal Government should immediately release the N10 billion promised to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in the State.

The Caucus said: “We call on the Leader of the All Progressives Congress in Benue, and indeed all stakeholders behind his onslaught against the government and people of Benue State to retract the call for emergency rule in the state, for the interest of democracy and explore other means of resolving the nagging insecurity in the State.

“The Caucus calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to embrace his conscience, rise up and end the bloodletting caused by his kith and kin in Benue State, now.

“The Caucus also rejects Sen. Akume’s call for the disbandment of the livestock guards in the implementation of the anti-open grazing Act.

“The Caucus also wishes to caution the presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu to stop trivializing and misconstruing Gov. Ortom’s outspokenness for an attack on the President Muhammadu Buhari. Gov. Ortom has the highest regards for the president and will not do or say anything to drag the presidency in the mud. The Gov. however, will never sacrifice the lives of his people on the altar of the presidency.

“The Caucus also calls on the Federal Government to urgently redeem her promise of N10 billion to resettle the internally displaced persons in Benue and appeals to the former Governor and one of our leaders in Benue State, Sen. Akume, to eschew his disagreement with the incumbent Governor and embrace efforts to end attacks on innocent citizens/indigenes of our dear state.”