Abduction: There have been allegations of political victimization in Benue State pointed at the government of Rev. Hycinth Alia, with Hon. Aondona Dajoh, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly-BSHOA accused of orchestrating a severe hunt against those they consider architects of stakeholders and the set of honorable members that refused to vote for Dajoh during the BSHOA leadership election.
One of the latest incident of these witch-hunt is the arrest of Hon. Jonathan Adbide Gyongo, the member representing Katsina-Ala West in the BSHOA by the Department of State Service-DSS , at his Makurdi residence, on Monday March 18, 2024 without any explanation.
This level of witch hunt has already set a bad precedent that some public officials, politicians and concerned citizens are been targeted and can victimized at any point they dare to challenge or question any actions undertaken by the governor Alia led government.
On several occasions, the Speaker of the BSHOA, Hon. Aondona Dajoh has been accused of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies towards honorable members that oppose his politics, the speaker seems to be creating a system of impunity in the BSHOA where members are devoid of questioning his decisions.
*Here is a list of top 5 deliberate actions taken by the BSHOA Speaker to intimidate and victimize some of his colleagues since his assumption of office*
One of the most alarming accusations against the Speaker is his blatant disregard for democratic principles within the legislative House. It has been reported that he had suspended four members who did not vote in his favor during a crucial decisions, effectively silencing any form of dissent within the Assembly since then. We found that, the four members were part of the 15 Honorables that didn’t vote for him.
Furthermore, reports have surfaced indicating that the Speaker has withheld the allocation of official vehicles from certain members as a form of punishment for not aligning with his agenda. Our investigation shows the three members affected were top members of other camp. This misuse of power not only hampers the ability of legislators to carry out their duties effectively but also creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the Assembly
In addition to these atrocious actions, it has been alleged that the Speaker refuses to grant some members the right to comment or reply on motions and bills during plenary, thereby limiting their ability to represent their constituencies during serious discuss. The Speaker’s stifling dissent for a targeted members and restriction of open dialogue is effectively eroding the democratic values that form the foundation of a functional legislative body.
Other reports suggest that the Speaker has advised the governor to abandon the renovation of the assembly complex for some hidden motives, a project crucial for providing a conducive working environment for lawmakers and staff. This neglect shows his total disregard for the welfare and needs of both Honorable members and the staff within the Assembly. It also imply that the government is implementing a covert security measure by relocating members to the government house under the pretext of renovating the assembly complex, thereby exerting control and surveillance over them in a politically charged environment
The speaker’s actions are not only harmful to the Benue State House of Assembly’s operations but also establish a concerning precedent for the future governance in the state. His conduct not only damages his own reputation but also reflects negatively on Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
It is imperative that these wrongdoings of the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly are brought to light, so that public scrutiny is directed towards holding him accountable for abuse of power and for undermining democratic principles.
