The burial of the late Ter Kwande, His Royal Highness James Adzape was marred by clashes between PDP and ACN Youths, February, 26 at Adikpo. The day before, PDP youths went about in the town removing ACN posters and those of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Professor Steve Ugbah. So early that Saturday, morning a number of ACN youths in retaliation, attacked the Suwam/Lawani campaign bus and smashed it window glasses. In the melee that ensued, a number of dignitaries stayed away from the burial. Even those who had spent the night in hotels in the town could not stay at the burial because of the atmosphere of fear.
A source which preferred to be anonymous blamed the caretaker committee chairman of Kwande, Hon. Terlumun Akputu. “We know that Akputu is behind all these things. As a matter of fact, that is the reason for which Suswam insisted on making him the chairman at his time. The unfortunate thing is that this behaviour will only take us back to the 2004 crises,” The source lamented.
Reacting to the crisis allegations, the PDP Youth Leader for Adikpo township, Mr Ujah Kwaghhon accused the former governor, senator George Akume of bringing an opposition party to Kwande when he, during his tenure had destroyed kwande in 2004 because it was then in opposition. “Well one day, Akume said we should run a one party system. The opposition APP came and Akume sent people to come and burn us down. Now that we have agreed to do one party, it is the same Akume that has brought the ACN.” He said. Asked how the clashes could be averted, another PDP youth, Timothy Vambe advised the Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam to report to the security operatives where the weapons allegedly being piled by the opposition where coming from. “The governor of Benue state is the chief security. We expect he knows where the weapon are coming. So he should direct security personnel like the state security service SSS to go and seize those weapons,” he admonished. “If you hear about beating, it is the ACN that started. They damarged Suwam’s campaigns bus, they beat the township leader. So if they say we have beaten them they lying” Timothy said.
Mr. Ujah wondered why Akume who had done eight years as governor did not want another person to also do eight. “He did eight years. Why doesn’t he want another person to do eight years too? Was it because people at that time did not know politics?” He asked angrily. The PDP youths alleged that it was the ACN youths who were bringing down their billboards by themselves to turn round and blame PDP youths for vandalism. “They burnt down their party’s posters, damaged their vehicles and are now saying it is the PDP youths that are causing trouble” the youths alleged. Mr Ujah said the PDP was in government and did not want to be blamed for any crises. “But when t hey keep beating us everyday like that and we respond and say enough is enough, people come together and talk because we can’t continue to be beaten forever” he warned.
Meanwhile, a cross section of Kwande people have condemned the crises. Elder Statesman and Benue political leader, Wantaregh Paul Unongo anyone instigating crisis in Kwande we not go unpunished. Another individual who wouldn’t have his name in print said he was ready for whatever trouble that was coming to Kwande.
People from all walks of life including Governor Gabriel Suswam, Ho, Terlumun Akputu, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Uter of Local governments in Benue State and many other dignitaries witness the burial. Chief James Adzape had died on 23rd December, 2010 at Madonna Hospital, Makurdi.
No comments:
Post a Comment