‘I am not dumping APC to join El-Rufai in SDP’– Gov. Alia

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has dismissed claims that he is contemplating defecting to Social Democratic Party, SDP, to join Nasiru El-Rufai.

Note that, the former Kaduna State Governor defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the SDP early this week.

This is just as the social media was awash with talks that before his defection, El-Rufai visited Governor Alia at Government House, Makurdi in a bid to woo him to the SDP, a claim that the Governor denied.

Spokesman for the Governor Tersoo Kula in a statement on Wednesday made available to the media described the claim as ‘absolutely gratuitous’ and lacking any trustworthy evidence.

Kula said in an attempt to supply credence to their soaring fictions, the detractors have resorted to recycling an innocuous picture from an old visit, which has been manipulated to complete their account.

He noted that after they, through their infamous hirelings, viciously speculated that the former Governor of Kaduna State visited Governor Alia in Makurdi. They forgot that official security reports follow such visits.

According to him, “Governor Alia is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State and has successfully resurrected the party which was on the threshold of recession prior to the 2019 elections. And his laudable performance in office has not solely enhanced the APC, but has further forced opposition parties into refuge.

“It is an established fact that a wise individual builds a strong foundation and does not solicit shelter under another’s roof. And since taking over office, Governor Alia has thrived faithfully to reconnect Benue State with the federal government, culminating in an overabundance of benefits comprising plumb appointments for our people.”