By Amos Aar
GOVERNOR Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has urged his appointees to be generous with the little they have, especially towards the less privileged, and to stop portraying him as a principled governor who withholds funds.
Governor Alia gave this charge on Sunday during a special thanksgiving mass organised by his mother, Mama Martina Mbateren Alia, at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi in honour of the governor’s political appointees and his Principal Private Secretary (PPS), Dr Emmanuel Chenge, who recently survived a near-fatal domestic accident.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alia emphasised that his financial prudence is in the best interest of the people of Benue State.
“Think about Benue. Even if it’s just a seed of groundnut, share it with the people. Stop saying you’re not getting anything. Politics is about gathering people, Party ka ikyohol ior,” he said, switching to the Tiv language.
The governor expressed gratitude to his mother for organising the thanksgiving, noting that it served as a reminder of the importance of unity and support among his team and the people of Benue.
“I thank my mother for taking this initiative. There’s a reason behind it, I believe she wanted my appointees to understand the value of support. She’s not just a mother; she’s my best friend, an incredible advisor, and a strong protector. She cares deeply about humanity, and by extension, she cares for all of you,” Alia said.
He explained that the thanksgiving was not just to show gratitude but also to encourage his appointees to remain committed to their roles for the benefit of the state.
“She wanted to thank you for the support you’ve given me and to encourage you to do even more, to the glory of God and for the betterment of Benue State.
“This thanksgiving signifies that there’s so much more we can achieve if we are all dedicated to fostering progress, promoting ideologies that support growth, and driving the prosperity of our state,” he added.
Reflecting on the state’s development over the years, Alia noted that the state has not achieved its full potential despite being 49 years old.
“We have little to show for the past 49 years, which is not good enough. We’re trying to catch up, to correct the omissions of the past, and to reset the course for sustainable development. Our goal is to improve human capacity, foster economic growth, and move Benue from grace to greater grace,” he stated.
Governor Alia stressed the need for his administration to focus on programs that will improve the lives of internally displaced persons (IDPs), rebuild the state’s economy, strengthen educational structures, and promote pride in the identity of every Benue citizen.
“We must implement programs that will not only resettle IDPs but also lift them out of poverty, empower them to thrive on their farms, and contribute to rebuilding our economy. Our focus will be on human capacity development, education, and strengthening existing structures so that every Benue citizen can be proud of our state,” he said.
He urged his appointees to remain committed, work collaboratively, and ensure they do not disappoint the people of Benue State.
“The state looks up to us. It’s my hope that, with determination, we will continue to move forward with progressive programs that bring development and pride to every citizen of Benue,” Alia stated.
