By Amos Aar
THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia, on Friday unveiled Hon. Sam Ode as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.
Performing the ceremony at the IBB Square in Makurdi, Fr Alia solicited the support of Benue people to enable him and Ode to clinch the seat in order to transform the state, noting its backwardness in all sectors.
Alia, who lamented the total disconnect of Benue State from the federal government under the current administration assured that he and Ode will reconnect Benue to the central government to be able to attract development.
“Benue State has no connection with the federal government. Benue State is so disconnected from the central government. How can you function? The federal government is the main vine, all states are branches. Our branch has been cut off from the vine tree, how can we exist? We can’t,” Alia maintained.
Fr. Alia, who implied that the disconnect between Benue State and the federal government is responsible for all forms of underdevelopment bedeviling the state said: “Words will not be enough to describe the deplorable state Benue State is in today.
“Nothing is functioning including the civil service which is deplorable. Civil servants are no longer paying their dues. Civil servants, it’s not known whether it’s still there, but the civil service remains the engine of any government. They have never been promoted, new ones have never been hired, there is stagnation but there is allocation that comes for them from the federal government every month. We don’t know why. But I want all civil servants of our state to please stay hopeful, 2023 is at the corner.
“Our pensioners who are already described as dead people; to human beings you are dead, but to God and I and my team, you are the great heroes of our state. Your dry bones are going to rise again.
“It’s sad enough that we don’t have hospitals in Benue State. Our third-tier hospital is in a deplorable state, talk less of the second-tier and then the third. We don’t have primary healthcare in the state; in matter of months, all our hospitals will be resurrected.”
Alia also assured teachers that their reward must not be in heaven but will begin right here on Earth. “Remain hopeful, hope is on the way, 2023,” he said as he also deplored the abysmal decline in economic activities in the state and high taxation imposed without commensurate development.
“Business owners have left Benue State. When I was growing up on the streets of Makurdi here, we saw all businesses booming. But all have just vanished because of high taxes. High taxes are paid but the money disappears into thin air and nothing is done for the poor people of Benue State. Very soon, that is going to be mystery of the past.”
He said that as soon as the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurates his national campaign, he (Alia) will do same at the state level. But before the inauguration of his guber campaign, Fr Alia said he will unveil his development blueprint for Benue State.
“When we inaugurate our campaign right after the presidential, I will talk to you straight in your hearts and your eyes as you want me to speak. But I would like you to take this back home, you called me to come and I have said yes, I will come and you have all now said: Yes, Father! Once you say Yes, Father, that is a done deal for Benue State,” Alia said with confidence.
Responding earlier to the responsibility given him, Sam Ode said he will never take the opportunity for granted, adding that it was very rare that the political party gave him the opportunity in 2019 and has considered him fit again for 2023.
“I’m going to submit myself totally and absolutely to the ideals of the APC. I will give unflinching loyalty to my principal, the governor in waiting. I count myself very lucky to serve a priest of God. This can only be done by God and it is marvelous in my sight.
“Your Excellency, I want to assure you of my loyalty. I will follow you wherever you go and I will work with you tirelessly to serve the people of Benue State,” Ode assured Alia.
