By Vincent Ibe
The Citizens United to Save Humanity, an agglomeration of civil advocacy groups, public policy think tanks, blue chip apparatchiks, social affairs commentariats and the mass media has called for the arrest and prosecution of officials of the Benue State government who acting on the orders of the State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia unlawfully seized relief materials donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to Hon Terseer Ugbor, Member representing Kwande/ Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State. According to a communique signed by CUSH public relations officer, Comrade Jude Odumodu, the group further stated that: ‘At the conclusion of investigations, those persons or institution found culpable in the illegal seizure of the relief materials should face the due sanction of the law in order to act as a deterrence to such like minded persons and prevent such an occurrence in the future. It would be recalled that relief materials donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to Hon. Terseer Ugbor, Member of the House of Representatives, for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency was reportedly seized on transit in mid- September 2023 Benue by persons acting on the orders of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The donated items, which included sacks of garri, rice, wrappers, mosquito nets, seasoning cubes, and tomato paste, were given to Hon Terseer Ugbor’s aides who in collaboration with NEMA, transported the goods to Makurdi, Benue State, to be stored in a warehouse until suitable dates could be set for distribution under the supervision of NEMA and SEMA. However officials of the state government led by the chief security officer of the governor in collaboration with SEMA officials halted the offloading of the relief materials, seized them and transported them to an undisclosed destination. Attempts to reclaim the seized items proved abortive for a period of time and regardless of whether the relief materials have been released, the CUSH unreservedly and unconditionally condemn such an action as an unwarranted interference and unlawful usurpation of the legislative rights, duties and privileges of Hon Terseer Ugbor which should be treated with the sobriety and seriousness it deserves. On no account should the Honourable Member be deterred or distracted in the lawful performance of his obligations to his constituents who deserve to benefit from the fulsome delivery of democratic dividends. In this regard we call on the relevant security agencies e.g. the Police, DSS, EFCC and ICPC to act in a swift and decisive manner by arresting and prosecuting those officials of the Benue State government involved in the illegal relief materials saga no matter how highly placed they may be. It is disheartening to note that a state government would knowingly interfere with the constitutional duties, functions and obligations of a federal lawmaker actively working for the interests of his people. This action is condemnable, high-handed retrogressive and a flagrant abuse of the executive powers of the state governor which should be discouraged and duly sanctioned by law. In this regard, we are pleased to note that Hon Terseer Ugbor has already instituted a civil suit for libel and defamation of character to the tune of N1billion naira against Governor Hyacinth Alia as this would serve to deter any flagrant abuse of such authority by a state chief executive in the near or foreseeable future. It is a highly welcome development as our people will say, a stitch in time saves nine’ – the CUSH communique made available to newsmen in Abuja
