By Brenda Agba
The Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has said his victory at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal is victory for the Benue people and democracy in general.
Alia stated this in Makurdi Monday while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the IBB Square.
The governor said those who had been stealing from Benue people in the past had also tried to steal the mandate, a move he noted did not come to fruition because it is a mandate ordained by God and the people.
Lamenting the poor leadership style witnessed by the people in the recent past, the governor stressed the need to work towards ensuring a better Benue.
Alia explained that it is in view of the above that his administration quickly swung into action upon assumption of office on May 29th.
According to him, within the short period he has been in office, his administration has recorded remarkable achievements which include: Prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity; Commencement of construction of sixteen number township roads in Makurdi metropolis; Purchase of one hundred buses for Benue Links to ease transportation; Training of ten thousand youths in different areas of Information Communication Technology (ICT); Installation of street lights in Makurdi and Provision of fertilizer at subsidized rate to farmers adding that the state government is set to pay the WAEC and NECO registration fees for final year students of all government owned secondary schools among others.
On the narrative that the APC is divided, the governor who said the party is in one accord both at the leadership and at the membership levels, express appreciation to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Sen. Dr George Akume for his support while calling on those in the opposition to join hands with his administration to move the state forward.
Alia, who said the current leadership of the state will not condone acts of criminality, called on those behind the kidnap of the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Matthew Abo as well as former Council Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area, Mr. Iorwashima Erukaa to immediately release them in their own interest as security operatives are already doing the needful.
He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to the state even as he assured that the Fuel Subsidy Removal Palliatives allocated to Benue will be fairly distributed and judiciously utilized.
Earlier in his opening remarks, a chieftain of the APC, Elder Barr Vincent Uji commended the tribunal for delivering a fair judgement and expressed optimism that with Alia at the helm of affairs, Benue is going to experience great transformation.
Recall that the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal last Saturday, revalidated the victory of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia as the duly elected Governor of Benue State.
