By Amos Aar
THE Benue State governor-elect, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, on Friday in Makurdi swore in members of his transition committee that will coordinate the handover of power from the outgoing administration of Governor Samuel Ortom to his incoming administration.
Fr. Alia charged members of the transition committee to be focused, diligent and patriotic in the discharge of their duties. He said their selection was by virtue of the trust and confidence he reposed in them.
“Your choice to serve in this Committee is well beyond partisan politics. I’m convinced that you all have the requisite [qualification] to serve in this committee; your antecedents have proven so. You are going to do a task that all Benue people will write down in their history,” Fr. Alia told members of the committee.
The 29-member transition committee earlier presented by the Deputy Governor-elect, Sam Ode, for inauguration by his principal, has a former Head of Service (HoS) in the state, Chief Mike Iordye, as chairman and Dan Ashiekaa as secretary.
Others inaugurated as the committee members include Prof. John Enyi, Prof. Steven Ugbah, Chief Hinga Biem, Dr. Moses Tule, Arch Samuel Agule, Rt. Hon. Paul Biam, Barr. Moses Atagher, Hon. Emmanuel Atser, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Mr. Humbe Mkena, Dr. Christopher Obute and Prof. Christie Ekoja.
Others include Hon. Philip Kwaghsor, Lady Helen Atom, Barr. Bemsen Mnyim, Mrs. Nana Mede, Hon. Nick Wende, Dr. Timothy Aikyor, Hon. Nick Eworo, Lady Susan Achiaga, Rt. Hon. Dorothy Mato, Dr. Patrick Onumah, AVM Monday Morgan (rtd), Hon. Solomon Wombo, Hon. Dan Onje, Barr. Patricia Kupchi and Rev. Pst Philip Tachin.
According to the deputy governor-elect, the committee is to liaise with the outgoing government’s transition committee to ensure a seamless handover of power. Ode explained that the nomination of members of the committee was based on their qualifications and contributions to the development of society.
Chairman of the committee, Chief Iordye, in his remark on behalf of the members, promised to justify the confidence reposed in them and thanked the governor-elect for finding them worthy to handle the task.
“As the name implies, this is a transition committee to ensure that there is a smooth handover. Your Excellency, we want to promise you and your deputy and the people of Benue State that we shall ensure that everything that belongs to Benue State is handed over from the outgoing administration to your administration,” Iordyde assured.
It could be recalled that the former Head of Service had chaired the transition committee of Governor Samuel Ortom in 2015 and he has been engaged to do it again for Fr. Alia.
Mixed reactions
Meanwhile the inauguration of the committee has received mixed reactions from Benue people. While some hailed it as comprising experienced, tested and trusted personalities with outstanding record of performance in their various fields of human endeavor, others described the composition of the committee as mere window-dressing and putting square pegs in round holes.
Those who viewed the committee as made up of square pegs in round holes argued that the members are familiar political faces from failed administrations in the past.
In an interview, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who pleaded anonymity, expressed worry that if the incoming administration is recycling old politicians, the good governance and positive change being expected by Benue people will remain a mirage at the end of the day.
“I’m disappointed to have seen these same faces again. This is not a good beginning because most of those people failed us in the past. Why not engage new hands to inject new blood in the system, people who will look at issues differently? Many of those people are even tired already and no more productive,” the party stalwart observed.
Similar sentiments pervade the social media and discussion group, although many expressed that the transition committee is not a cabinet and therefore called for patience.
