The Benue State House of Assembly has responded to the member representing Ado, Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon Philip Agbese’s petition calling for the takeover of the state assembly’s functions as misleading.
According to the assembly, Agbese’s claims are misleading and demonstrate a lack of understanding of legislative business.
In a statement released by Hon Alfred Emberga, Chairman of the Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Information, the assembly emphasised that it suspended 13 members, not 14, as Agbese claimed.
“If Hon Agbese truly understands legislative business, he would have been ashamed of himself for presenting such a petition and calling for his colleagues to take over the leadership of the Benue state House of Assembly.
“Agbese ridiculed himself by stating that 14 members of the Benue state House of Assembly were suspended, when in fact, only 13 members are suspended for faults that are entirely their own. Many have confessed that Agbese and his Abuja cohorts misled them into breaking the House’s standing rules.”
“Since Agbese is often out of touch with his people, he doesn’t know the correct number of suspended members. Agbese should be ashamed of presenting a petition that its writers, and even Benue state indigenes, have disowned,” the statement added.
The statement further stated that the Benue State House of Assembly adhered to its standing rules, which forbid members from organising press conferences against the House’s decisions, particularly when they were part of those decisions.
It further noted that Hon Agbese’s desire for the National Assembly to take over the state assembly is merely a fantasy, as the current House of Assembly, led by Hon. Hyacinth Dajoh, will continue to function independently.
In a related development, the Zone C Senatorial District Caucus at the Benue State House of Assembly, representing the people of Zone C, publicly dissociated themselves from Hon Philip Agbese’s call for the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Benue State House of Assembly.
This declaration was made during the plenary session held at the Hearing Hall of the House in Makurdi on Friday.
The members who spoke out against Agbese’s call included those representing Otukpo/Akpa, Adoka/Ogboju, and Okpokwu, namely Hon Kennedy Angbo, Hon Audu Michael, and Hon Anthony Agom.
The caucus criticised Agbese for his lack of understanding of legislative activities and warned him against pandering to Abuja politicians who do not have the best interests of the Benue people at heart.
They therefore encouraged him to work with Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to drive the state forward.
