Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue State, has stated that his election victory, which was validated by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, is the will of God as well as the people of the state.
Alia made the remarks at the IBB Square Makurdi during a victory celebration organized by the All Progressives Congress, APC State Executive Council.
The governor stated that the court verdict is a reminder that one cannot work against the majority’s mandate.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to restore IDPs to their ancestral homes and declared that a line has been drawn in the state between good and bad.
In the same vein, he declared that banditry and terrorism will no longer be tolerated in the state while he is in charge.
He went on to say that God has used him to put smiles back on the faces of the people of the state, and that his administration will not let them down.
Many things had gone wrong in the state, according to him, but he ensured that his administration had come to rebuild.
He utilized the opportunity to highlight some of his administration’s accomplishments, stating that the ongoing road development in Makurdi, the state capital, will be completed by the end of November 2023.
According to him, Benue Links Company Limited has already purchased 100 buses.
Alia went on to say, “Palliatives will soon be distributed to all the 23 local government areas across the state, as already, the trucks of grains have arrived the state.”
Concerning his intentions for the state’s youth, the governor stated that the ICT training program, which is set to begin soon, will provide the children with the opportunity to gain professional skills in ICT, thereby keeping them out of trouble.
Gov Alia thanked the family of the kidnapped Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr Matthew Abo, for their patience, revealing that the government is collaborating with security services to secure his release, and expressed hope that good news will arrive soon.
While also urging the state’s opposition parties to join forces with his administration, the governor praised the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, for his leadership and urged the people to reject rumors of party rift.