Hembe cause of crisis in Okpokwu - Deputy Speaker, Hon James Okefe

The leadership crisis in Okpokwu Local Government Area took a different turn this week as the caretaker chairman, Barr Chris Iduh and his EXCO appeared before the floor of Benue State House of Assembly to defend alleged allegations against the Deputy Speaker, Hon James Okefe.

The house had attributed to the chairman,  a post on Benuepost.blogspot.com in which the Deputy Speaker was accused of arm twisting the chairman into giving him a share of the council's monthly allocation. The House then invited the chairman and one Ati Terkula, a journalist and blogger who also published the post on his blog with the title "Okpokwu Local Government Crisis: The Untold Story"

Despite the thick air of suspicion surrounding the Deputy Speaker, the Assembly failed to quiz him, after which he was quick to make a press release claiming that he had been absolved of all allegations. It is interesting that the Benue State House of Assembly which has not passed a single bill since May pushed aside serious issues to discuss a Blog posting about it's Deputy Speaker. However, fresh revelations have emerged on how Hon Okefe courted the Okpokwu Local Government allocations in far away United States of America and now blames Hon. Herman Hembe, member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency, for his woes in the local government.

It was gathered that a few months ago, at the Idoma Day Celebration in the US, Hon Okefe (who accompanied the Deputy Governor as part of the state delegation) met Hon Herman Hembe who is believed to have pushed for the nomination of Barr Chris Iduh for caretaker chairman.

Hon Hembe is said to have cashed in on the demand for the Edumoga people to produce the Chairman of the Council since Edumoga people make up 70 percent of the population of Okpokwu LGA whilst Okpoga where Hon Okefe comes from make up just 20 percent with Ichama bringing the last 10 percent. Barrister Iduh from Edumoga district was Hon Hembe's room mate in the University.

Hon Okefe demanded for his "share"  of the local government allocation from Hon Hembe at the meeting in the US but he was quickly rebuked by the federal member who told him to cast such thoughts away. After trying all avenues of getting his "share" to no avail, the Deputy Speaker has vowed to crush all in the wake of his political trajectory, the local Government chairman, Barr Chris Iduh and his friend Hon Herman Hembe inclusive.

When Benuepost.blogspot.com contacted Hon Okefe on the issue, he responded very angrily, shouting, "Who is Hembe, don't ever mention that name to me" before cutting the line.

All efforts to reach Hon Hembe were futile as he did not answer his phone nor return our call.

Revealed! The Real Hands Behind Okpokwu Local Government Crisis

It is no longer news that Okpokwu Local Government is currently embroiled in serious leadership and political crisis which has degenerated to serious issues of slander and blackmail concerning the local government's monthly allocation.

However investigation into the matter have revealed that the real hands Behind the crisis is the Special Adviser on Ethics and Value Orientation, Dr Godwin Ameh Idoko. Dr. Ameh whose appointment was made possible by the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. James Okefe.

According to our source, Idoko who is Okefe's political dependant was brought in by the Deputy Speaker, Hon James Okefe and together have been demanding for a share of the Okpokwu Local Government allocation from the caretaker chairman, Barr. Chris Idu.

Findings have however proven that there has actually been an arm twisting and cajole for the monthly allocation. This ploy has been uncovered to be hatched by the same Special Adviser and Deputy Speaker who have engaged in deep intrigues aimed at blackmailing and intimidating the caretaker chairman of Okpokwu Local Government, Bar. Chris Idu and anybody that opposes them.

However the chairman had allegedly refused to compromise in this regard, as according to him it will not be possible in this new dispensation due to the zero tolerance to corruption stance of the governor and the strict monitoring of local government funds.

It has been uncovered that the recent ploy is aimed at pulling the Governor into the battle as just recently the adviser, acting on the mandate of Hon Okefe went behind to Governor Ortom and demanded that he be allowed to choose the next Local Government Chairman in January 2016, the intention is to bring someone in who would compromise unlike the present one.

This plot which has not gone down well with the Deputy Governor who has insisted that the right thing should be done has also become an enemy to them and as a result they have taken the fight to him.

Our source further confirmed that in a recent meeting, the adviser referred to the Deputy Governor as "mere Deputy Governor" while inquiring what rights he had to interfere with Okpokwu Local Government matters.

The plot which has taken a rather dirty dimension as the adviser is now bent on causing a rift between the Deputy Governor and the Governor in a bid the play out the nefarious script of the Deputy Speaker.

In all of this, the deputy speaker has maintained an innocent front to avoid exposure of his treachery to the Governor. He has been boosting that the same Pastor that prayed for the Governor has also prayed for him to be the next Deputy Governor hence the motive behind his cat fight to become politically dominant at the cost of the electorate.