Benue Traditional Leaders Urge Feuding Parties in Benue to Tow Peaceful Resolution to Crises

The leaders of Benue Socio Cultural groups under the aegis of Mdzough U Tiv, (MUT), Ochetoha K' Idoma, (OKI), and Omi Ny’ Igede,(ONI) on Thursday condemned the crisis in the Benue State House of Assembly, urging the feuding parties to seek peace to avert looming anarchy in the state.

The leaders also appealed to the paramount rulers of the state to intervene in the matter by quickly summoning a summit to resolve the crisis.

In a statement issued by President General of MUT, Chief Edward Ujege; National President, OKI, Adoya Amali, and President General of ONI, Ben Okpa, the leaders decried the actions of the feuding parties, regretting that "their behaviour does not indicate that they understand the objectives of their mandate, “instead they are deviating from the expectations of the common Benue man.

"We therefore express our dismay and consequent disapproval of the spate of impeachment and suspension rocking the executive and legislative arms of government recently.

"Our concern as leaders of Benue people is that this negative development will not advance us. The security situation in the state which is gradually improving will also suffer a setback.

"The successes we are getting from the Operation Whirl Stroke may be slowed down. Our farmers will be in confusion, the victims in the various IDP camps will have no hope of going back to their ancestral homes soon. Where do we go from here? We want to advise very strongly that the trend be reversed.

"We cannot allow this ugly situation to continue unduly. We want to also warn here that our elected members must take the interest of the electorate at heart. The fight will not benefit the farmers and the people of state in general."

While condemning the occupation of the state assembly by Police personnel, the leaders noted that "the process of law making is to disagree to agree, and we have witnessed this in any legislative fora worldwide without the unnecessary interference of the police and other law enforcement agents. Benue case should therefore not be an exception.

"We humbly call upon President Muhammadu Buhari, all other well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to intervene in the Benue State case so that our land would not become a war zone."