From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has cautioned the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP against indulging in lies, deceit, fabrications and all shades of blackmail against his administration.
This caution was contained in a press statement on Monday signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Tersoo Kula and made available to journalists.
The advice comes against the backdrop of allegation that the Governor ordered the arrest, detention and prosecution of a PDP social media activist Paul Gyenger last weekend for posting on the cyperspace that Governor Alia misappropriated 2 billion Federal Government Palliative given to the State
Governor Alia maintained that his Government is not in any way averse to constructive criticism and scrutiny, adding that as a matter of fact, he cherishes feedback in all he does with and for the public.
Kula said the Governor is not oblivious of the main role of opposition in a democracy, which is to scrutinise government decisions, policies, and actions, and play oversight over the Executive and its public policies, averring that Alia truly is very well at home with this.
“No human is perfect and as such, since humans lead institutions, every institution is bound to have shortcomings. Your criticism, no matter how daring or fierce, once constructive, will be welcome.
“After all, as Harold J Laski pointed out, “Men who are to live together peacefully must be able to argue together “.
“Thus, Alia as a very responsible leader, is a firm believer in the constitutional rights of citizens, including, the Right to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
“However, there is an apparent distinction between FREEDOM OF SPEECH and MISCHIEVOUS FABRICATIONS. While Nigeria’s laws permit the former, it frowns at the latter.
“However, the opposition MUST argue responsibly. There must be decorum in all engagements, and this should be devoid of lies, fabrications and all shades of blackmail. We should be patriotic. If we all agreed that the Benue is ours, then, we need to put our state first in all our considerations and undertakings.
“In Benue at the moment, let it be known that Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia now embodies the state. Any negativity that affects his person, has an adverse impact on the state.
Perpetual villainous falsity against him will certainly affect the state and its machinery. In a desperate bid to caustically paint him black by libeling his hard-earned cheerful reputation, one may be scaring investors, development partners, donor agencies and even the federal government from sending interventions to the state believing, though wrongly, that the man in charge of the state cannot be trusted with such interventions. Then, who loses?
“Furthermore, spiteful concoctions ferociously spread on cyberspace under the pretext of political ‘activism’, no doubt have the tendencies to impugn the reforms brought in by the Reverend Gentleman. In a democracy, reforms sail through when the led believe them, and have confidence in the leader.
‘Those who genuinely criticise the government, making findings, and asking questions to arrive at their opinions, negative or positive, are friends of the Government.
“It is an established standard in legal parlance that he who asserts must prove. People should not use cyberspace for negativity and mischief. When you assert unsubstantiated and baseless allegations against Alia and his government, must get ready to substantiate. This is not a threat. But we must be accountable, and we have accepted the challenge. Alia has made it abundantly clear that the use of thugs and hooligans to intimidate and coerce opposition into submission as was a norm in the past is not and can never be endorsed and tolerated in his government. In Alia’s Government, be assured that you will be provided an opportunity to substantiate whatever you assert”, the statement reads.
