Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has lamented the level of underdevelopment of the state many years ago saying past administrations failed to take the challenge upon them but succeeded in taking the state 40 years backward.
Governor Alia stated this while addressing the a mammoth crowd of Jechira constituency during a visit to thank them for the massive support they gave him that saw his emergence as governor in the March governorship election.
He said the massive transformation being witnessed in the state today was Divine and intended to write the state’s name in the anal of history aimed at returning the state’s lost glory.
He said, “many years ago, Benue was taken 40 years backward. In between, we had great heroes who came in to do their bit and set the people free. This is one of the reasons God wants you to join forces with great few governors who have demonstrated love for their state and for humanity.
“For you to co-opt into this administration of ours to bring development and bring our children back to the pedestal that should be in the classroom so that our tomorrow becomes very prosperous and futuristic.
“What we have done in the area of renovation of schools, hospitals, roads construction, provision of electricity among many others in the last one year was just a tip of the iceberg”.
Governor Alia commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his laudable initiatives aimed at putting the country back on the fast lane of development, stressing that such programmes have direct bearing on the lives of every citizen of the country.
He noted that such lofty programmes are also targeted at improving the lives of teeming unemployed youths to make them economically viable and employers of labour.
Governor Alia said as part of his administration’s commitment to soak up the unemployment youths in profitable ventures, he has since commenced the training of 10, 000 youth in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), stressing that another batch of 10,000 youths is expected to be trained until 60,000 of them are finally trained.
He boasted that his administration achieved much in the last four years as evidenced in the construction of several roads, renovation of schools and hospitals, the state Assembly complex, provision of water, electricity and ensuring security to lives and property of people of the state among others.
Former National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), now chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Barnabas Gemade, said the Jechira people in particular and people of the state are solidly behind the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, whom he said has performed well in one the last one year.
“He (Alia) has performed well, we are in total support of his administration and we are charging all sons and daughters of Jechira that nobody should contest with him in 2027, and he will stand unopposed when the time for second term comes.
“We have decided to decamp all people from different political parties back to the APC in the state to show that this is the turn of Jechira who are solidly behind their son.
Chief Gemade said the governor has a tall scorecard to show for his one year in office describing it as ‘amazing’.
“In fact, his scorecard is better than any governor in Benue State, he is competing with Aper Aku who before now was number one”.
