By Amos Aar
THE HOUSE of Representatives member for Gwer East/Gwer West federal constituency, Hon. Austin Asema Achado, has challenged Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to explain what he has done with the over N300 million from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to Gwer East LGA and the impact of the funds on the people since he assumed office.
Achado threw the challenge in a statement dated June 22, 2024 signed by his personal assistant, Manasseh Mendah, in reaction to Governor Alia’s accusation during his thank-you-tour to the people of Gwer East/Gwer West at Aliade, the headquarters of Gwer East LGA, that the federal representative from the area had kicked against his decision to construct an underpass at Aliade.
In a video posted by Alia TV, the Governor further criticised the lawmaker for not doing a single project for his people for a complete period of one year at the National Assembly.
Alia, who spoke in Tiv language in the video, said: “We are constructing roads across Benue State. But when we came to Aliade, we were resisted.
“You elected your children to go there for effective representation. But it’s unfortunate that they are rather scattering. I brought white men here to survey this big Aliade junction for construction of an underpass because we are constructing underpass at Gboko and Makurdi and it will be good if we do it here and in Otukpo. But your children, whom you have sent there, said no, they don’t need flyover here. You know those your children. They said I should not bring those my developments here and I was baffled.
“I don’t know whether it is because for a whole year, they have not recorded even a single achievement so as to present their report card to their constituents that they don’t want another person to do projects.
So, talk to those your children. Aliade is not a place for one person, it’s not for them alone, this is the terminus between North and South. So, talk to them so that there will be development here. But personally, no matter the level of their resistance, I must bring development to Aliade”.
Debunking Alia’s statement that Hon. Achado has not recorded a single project for his constituents throughout his first one year at the NASS, the lawmaker, who also tasked Alia to implement anti-open grazing law of Benue State so as to stop Fulani invasion of the State, highlighted several achievements such as provision of solar Street lights, construction of police quarters and rehabilitation of Aliade Divisional Police Station; amongst others.
The statement reads in part:
“We listened with disbelief and disappointment, the utterances of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia during his visit to Gwer which took place in Aliade where he leveled all manner of unfounded claims and accusations against Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume and National Assembly members from Benue State, particularly the Honourable Member of the House of Representatives for Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Arc (Dr) Asema Achado.
“Governor Alia had during his speech pointedly accused National Assembly members representing the constituency of stopping him from constructing an underpass at the popular junction in Aliade which links the Makurdi, Gboko and Enugu roads. Such a blatant lie coming from a Governor who has the constitutional power to locate a project in any part of the state is not only shocking but also smacks of recklessness and manipulative tendencies in governance.
“While we are not surprised at Governor Alia’s deliberate misinformation and falsehood since it seems to be his penchant having previously accused the people of Gwer of being cattle rustlers, we however wonder why a man who was ordained as a priest constantly twists facts to score cheap political points.
“The people of Gwer East/Gwer West were expecting to hear Governor Alia list his achievements in the Federal Constituency within the last one year in office, but he could not point at just a single culvert which his government has constructed in the area.
“Hon. Achado is a development-minded leader who has supported governors of the state to succeed so as to draw projects to his people. In his personal capacity, he has over the years provided numerous projects for the people of Gwer and is doing more now that his people have sent him to represent them at the National Assembly. Achado couldn’t have therefore discouraged Governor Alia from constructing an underpass at the headquarters of Gwer.
“Hon. Achado challenges Governor Alia to name only one project that he has commenced or completed in Gwer East/Gwer West in the past one year.
“The federal lawmaker advises Governor Alia to stop using Senator George Akume and National Assembly members from Benue State as scapegoats for his unfulfilled campaign promises.
“He urges the Governor to account for the Federal allocation of over N300 million monthly to Gwer East local government and its impact on the people, and Implement the Anti Open Grazing law, so as to stop herdsmen from killing innocent Benue people”.
