By VC Collins Vershima
The powers, the politics and the people came together in solidarity upon the award and recognition of the Executive Governor of Benue State, HE Hyacinth Allia as the governer of the year by Leadership newspaper on Tuesday 5th March, 2024 where Hon. Prince Solomon Wombo, Member representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency of Benue at the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly didnot take a back seat in congratulating Fr Hyacinth Allia for a deserving recognition of a sterling performance at nation building.
Whilst speaking with newsmen in Abuja at the reception of the Award, the former Executive Burea Chief and Special Adviser to former Governor Suswam on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs disclosed that Governor Alia’s performance has no hiding place like a golden fish.
Prince Wombo, the Federal lawmaker commended Hyacinth Allia for matching promises with performance in strengthening the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) thereby bringing into fruition the drive for sustainable and improved sources of livelihoods.
Without fail, Prince Wombo didnot mince words in his applause for Governor Alia on the prompt payment of salaries to civil servants in Benue, a realization he considers a sharp break from the past.
“The prompt payment of salaries to civil servants on or before every 25th day of the month in Benue is worth celebrating as this was not realizable with the previous administration that rather owed backlog of salaries”
Also, Wombo, the accomplished bank chief stated that the construction of township roads in the state which is underway with 16 roads measuring 15.39 kilometres within the Makurdi metropolis and rural areas and the donation of 100 buses to Benue Links Company, stands Alia apart as an indefatigable administrator with the midas touch to turn around the fortunes of the masses in the times Nigeria is faced with.
Meanwhile, Tersoo Kula, the chief press secretary to the governor, stressed that the exceptional leadership style in Benue state earned Fr Alia the award of recognition of the Governor of the Year Award by the Leadership media organisation.
Kula maintained that the newspaper enumerated the governor’s unprecedented accomplishments moment he was sworn-in to office, stressing that Alia has zero tolerance for corruption and places a high premium on education with an undying commitment to road construction in improving the sources of livelihoods with accessibility of roads for the ease of business with the transportation system.
The chief press secretary stated some of the governor’s accomplishments mentioned by the media house as improved monthly allowances of N15,000 for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and N100,000 for NYSC doctors who are serving in Benue state.
Also,some of Governor Alia’s achievements which gave rise to the award of recognition by the Leadership newspaper included,the new retirement age and length of service for primary and secondary school teachers which governor Alia has approved, the recovery of numerous looted vehicles, tens of hectares of land, and numerous landed properties from the previous administration, as well as approved training of 10, 000 training of Benue youths in ICT.
Interestingly, in more outpour of encomiums on Governor Alia’s performance, Sen. Barnabas Gemade , a stakeholder in the state,reiterated that Governor Alia’s short time in office has brought home a deluge of measurable transformative accomplishments which have given hope, improved sources of livelihoods, and made a better benue an experience and not a hope.
In giving fillip to the support for the sustenance of transformative development in Benue, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Onoja(rtd) categorically stated that Benue stakeholders have resolved to put their weight behind Gov. Alia to ensure that he completes his two terms and sustain the tempo on the development of Benue. Gen. Onoja added that Fr Alia must be allowed to forge on with turning Benue around for posterity, stressing that previous Governors completed their eight years as such he insisted that Fr Alia will not have a similar experience.
In showering of more encomiums on Governor Alia , Hon.David Ogewu Member representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency of Benue at the 10th National Assembly emphasized that the issues of development were top priority for Governor Alia as he has not been distracted with the just- in-time delivery of fertilizer to farmers at subsidized rate, prompt and consistent payment of wages, pensions, and gratuity, and the elimination of ghost workers in the state civil service. He urged Governor Alia to stay the course of developement and called on stakeholders to work for the development of Benue state.
Hon . David Ogewu restated the resolute resolve to totally support Fr Alia to complete his terms as Governor of Benue as long as he was about the development of Benue state.
Also, the erstwhile CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Rt. Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Jime commended Fr Alia for a well thought out approach to bringing solutions to the issues of development in Benue. Jime contended that Alia remains distinguished as an administrator who has left no stone unturned for the cause of the development of Benue,therefore he restated that the stakeholders will put their weight behind Fr Alia to get Benue out of the woods unhindered.
