From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
The Senior Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Politics and Party Liaison, Mr Aondosoo Mela has accused his colleague, the Senior Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Mr Moses Mkeenem, of using thugs to attack him in Makurdi, the state capital.
This is just as Mkeenem has described the accusation as untrue saying he never attacked his colleague with thugs.
Mr Mela told newsmen that he was having a sit-out with some youths and associates from Kwande , where Mkeenem also hails from, when the incident happened.
He alleged that the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Solid Minerals, Forestry, and Mining, Stephen Uta, was also not spared as a gun was pulled at him while he was trying to intervene.
Mela alleged that Mr Mkeenem unleashed about 50 thugs to physically assault him while the meeting was ongoing.
According to him, “the potentially violent and life threatening altercation was prevented as brave onlookers intervened in the tensed situation and averted bloodbath and possible loss of lives.”
He said his driver only managed to whisk him away from the scene into the vehicle and zoomed off to a save place.
While he condemned the attack on him, Mela who said he was yet to report the matter to their boss, Governor Hyacinth Alia, threatened to report the matter to the Department of State Security, (DSS).
Reacting to the accusation, the SSA on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Hon Moses Mkeenem denied the allegations, saying he never attacked his colleague Mr Mela, with thugs.
Mkeenem explained that “What happened was a minor clash which was however exaggerated by Hon. Aondosoo Mela.
Mkeenem said while they were at a sit out, in Makurdi, Mela put his legs on a table and he told him (Mela) that it’s uncourteous for a younger person to keep his legs on the table when he is seated with elders.
“Then, Mela started shouting uncontrollably but he (Mkeenem) remained quiet, an action that attracted his youths who always accompany him as their state leader.
“They wanted to beat him up for accosting their leader but I prevailed on them to leave him and they obeyed immediately. None of them pointed a pistol at Mela contrary to his malicious allegation.”
Mkeenem who said Mela’s allegation was aimed at pulling him down, urged him to refrain from it.
Photos
Mela in brown sheda and Mkeenem in Navy blue dress.