2023: Benue Youths Forum Caution Against Political Destabilisation Plots
- The Benue Youths Forum has warned political actors and their supporters in the state to thread with caution
- The group said as the 2023 general elections draw near, stakeholders must be measured in their comments
- The forum also alleged that some people are been sponsored to cause unrest in the state under the guise of politics
Makurdi - As the next general elections draw near, the Benue Youth Forum, BYF has cautioned against acts that could destabilise the state being carried out by the Benue Rebirth Movement, BRM.
BYF president, Terrence Kuanum in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Friday, May 13 said the report credited to Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga (rtd) on behalf of the BRM over their agitation for an Idoma governor was capable of disrupting the peace in Benue.
Source: Facebook
He condemned Ejiga's comment that no Idoma politician should serve as a running mate to any Tiv man in the forthcoming 2023 governorship election.
The BYF said:
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"As a retired senior military officer, General Ejiga knows the implications of his recent outbursts and the consequences thereof.
''This is an incitement that the Idoma people should take arms against the Tiv people and by extension, cause unrest that may be unprecedented in the history of this state because of their agitations for the position of governor of the state.
"As the umbrella youth group in the state, we wish to clearly disassociate the Benue youth from any attempt by anyone or group of persons to create insecurity in the state as a result of their inability to achieve his inordinate political ambition."
Kuanum called on the federal government and security agencies to place General Ejiga and his cohorts on security watch, accusing them of planning to destabilise the government of Governor Samuel Ortom.
He added:
''We also urge all well-meaning Benue citizens to rise up and resist the activities of the BRM, whose main objective is to destabilise the relative peace enjoyed by the Benue people, through the painstaking efforts of Governor Ortom.
"BYF also notes the act of deliberate mischief and distortion of facts by the BRM.
"Contrary to claims that an Idoma person has never headed the judiciary in Benue state, it is on record that on December 15th, 2017, the Benue state House of Assembly confirmed Justice Adam Onum as the Chief Justice of Benue state.''
2023: Ortom committed to Idoma-speaking successor, Says Benue Youth Forum
The BYF had earlier stated that Governor Ortom is committed to handing over to an Idoma-speaking successor in 2023.
The group made the statement while reacting to the earlier stance of the BRM which accused the governor of working against an Idoma-speaking governor in the state by 2023.
Kuanum in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Tuesday, April 19 said Ortom is committed to power shift to the state's southern senatorial district.
2023: FCI to partner with other agencies to combat fake news
On its part, FactCheck Initiative (FCI) has created a team for a cause that will involve partnering with the government and other agencies in other to have free, fair, and peaceful elections in Nigeria void of any form of violence in 2023.
The main aim of this cause will be to spot, examine and respond to the impact caused by any misleading information ahead of the upcoming 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Adeoye Temitope, country director, FactCheck Initiative says stopping fake news and misinformation is the inspiration behind the project.
Source: Legit.ng
