The chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB Chairman, Doctor Grace Adagba has described journalists in the state as members of the opposition party.
Grace made the comment when the Benue state correspondent chapel sought to get clarification of internal wranglings in the board.
According to report by Daily Independent newspaper, Doctor Grace expressed dissatisfaction over the low reportage of activities of Governor Alia government by journalists in the state
She described members of Correspondents’ chapel in the state as “opposition party”, and claimed that the media in Benue were underreporting the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
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The SUBEB Chairman who refused to grant audience to the journalists, stated emphatically until she had proof that national dailies were reporting the Governor well, she would not entertain questions from the media.
She alleged that “In the past Government when things were not even done, the media was promoting it but now we have a government; we have things being done and you can see it. Permit me to be a bit more biased, or is the Correspondents’ Chapel an opposition party?
“I may be engaging you further, if I see a difference or a shift from what I’m seeing currently but if I don’t see it, I’m sorry, I will not engage you.”
She therefore dismissed the group with a wave of the hand, adding that until it steps up reporting the State Governor, she would not attend to the Chapel members.
Few months after the composition of the Benue State, Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Board has been hit by internal wrangling among its members.
The wrangling in the Board are traced to the high-handedness of the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Grace Adagba.
Impeccable sources within SUBEB told us that the Chairman of the Board have been running the activities of the Board, ‘solo’, (singlehandedly), a development which did not go down well with other members of SUBEB.
The source explained that “The Chairman (Dr Adagba) is very autocratic. She’s running the place ‘solo’ (singlehandedly). She does not need advise from anyone.
“She even told other members of the Board that she does not need them to run the Board, because she is capable to do it alone. She said that the others were simply made members just to fulfill the provisions of the law establishing SUBEB.
“The Chairman even told the Board members that she was the one that gave their names to the Governor, to be added as members, so they have nothing to tell her. Imagine the Chairman telling people as old as Prince Andy Uwouku, who have garnered vast experience over the years, that they do not have any value addition to SUBEB.
“It was for this reason that the other Board members were not present during your visit to our office. I think even the Secretary is not happy about the development, but in order to allow peace to reign and ensure the smooth running of the Board, he (Secretary) has to tag along.”
The source stressed that unless the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia intervenes in the face-off, the issue may spiral, a development which may not augur well for the Board, and indeed the state.
