Cephas Iorhemen 
…Says Agbese lacks powers to invite him to meet President
Benue State Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia has said that he had no idea over a peace meeting said to have been summoned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to end the intractable crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
New Telegraph reports that the said meeting was aimed at reconciling the governor and his estranged political leader, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume whose animosity has divided the party into two strong factions.
Despite interventions from the Presidency, the national leadership of APC and the paramount ruler of the state, the Tor Tiv, HRM, Prof. James Ayatse, that Alia should reconcile with his political benefactor, Akume, the crisis has continued to fester.
Addressing a news conference in Makurdi, Governor Alia, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said he did not receive any invitation from President Tinubu for any meeting aimed at settle his face-off with the SGF to end the crisis in the party in the state.
Besides, the governor maintained that the member representing Okpokwu/Ado/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Philip Agbese, who led the National Assembly Caucus at a news conference on why the governor shunned the meeting, lacks the capacity to stand in between him and the president.
“Agbese who recently pulled down the portrait of the governor in his office in Abuja, went out to accuse Governor Alia of shunning a peace meeting that was at the instance of the President Tinubu.
“It is unfortunate because we have no idea where he got that information. Agbese cannot say he speaks to the President more than the governor and cannot claim to have more ears to the Villa more than the governor and if a peace meeting is summoned at the instance of the President, we wondered why Mr Agbese will know rather than the governor.
“The governor had no idea of such a meeting, may it was summoned in the dream”.
He described Agbese’s conduct as worrisome, and warned him to focus on his legislative duties rather than criticizing his administration which he often describe as a “den of demons”.
“Agbese should focus on fulfilling his mandate and leave me out of his political disputes. There can only be one governor in a state. Those trying to stir conflict should understand that I remain focused and undistracted”.
