THE DEPUTY Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, has firmly rejected any suggestion that he serves as a mere ceremonial or underutilised figure within Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, asserting instead that he maintains a cordial and effective working relationship with the governor.
Ode made the declaration on Thursday in Makurdi while representing Governor Alia at a symposium organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, to mark the governor’s 60th birthday anniversary.
Addressing the gathering, the deputy governor described himself as a loyal second-in-command and pushed back against the notion of being a political “spare tyre”, a term often used in Nigerian politics to refer to a deputy who is sidelined or given little responsibility.
“I am proud to say that here in Benue State, I am not a spare tyre. I have a very good working relationship with His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia,” Ode stated.
He further praised the governor’s fiscal discipline and transparency, noting that Rev. Fr. Alia ensures every kobo allocated to development projects is spent judiciously and with full accountability.
The deputy governor’s remarks align with comments previously made by Governor Alia, who last year publicly endorsed Ode as a dependable partner.
On that occasion, the governor had said: “There is no vacancy for any deputy governor. I have a very good deputy who understands governance, is people-oriented, and very cerebral. He is capable, tested, and has all it takes to perform his functions. I love working with him and enjoy a personal relationship with him.”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Benue State Council of the NUJ, Bemdoo Ugber, extended congratulations to Governor Alia on his 60th birthday.
He further remarked that the level of developmental progress achieved by the current administration within just three years has surpassed the collective accomplishments of previous administrations over many years.
