Alia’s kinsmen warn detractors, drum support for 2nd tenure

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The kinsmen of the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, from Jechira intermediate area, have reaffirmed their solidarity and commitment to support their son to deliver democracy dividends to the state without distraction.

Jechira intermediate area comprises the people of Konshisha and Vandeikya Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.

Speaking during a solidarity rally in Tse Agberagba, headquarters of Konshisha LGA on Saturday, the people who spoke unanimously across party lines said their son, Alia, had been doing well since his election and they were ready to stand behind him till the end of his first and second tenures.

Speaking to newsmen at the event, Chairman of Benue APC Elders’ Forum, Chief Barnabas Gemade, said all the Jechira people voluntarily came together to express their solidarity to the governor, especially in the major event at the state Assembly and other knotty problems making it difficult for him to have a smooth ride in rendering services to the state.

Gemade said: “You will recall that just two days ago, the assembly had to step into a lingering matter between the executive and the judiciary, where several issues are under contention and the the House of Assembly had to come in to do an oversight function.

“Since then, there has been so much and a lot of detractors have gone to the press to say all manner of things. The Jechira people decided to come together to dispel all the rumours being spread about what took place between the Assembly and the state Chief Judge.

“We are here, all the parties, APC, PDP, Labour Party and every other party that is existing here in Jechira, their leaders are here to express our solidarity for the Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for the good work he is doing in the state and also to commend the state Assembly for living up to expectation to do its own work of sanitising the system.

“The message is that we have given our Governor the support to move in and perform like Aper Aku did, and like Adadu started to do. He should live in their footsteps and move forward.

“That time, we said that no Jechira person should contest an election with him until he completed his eight years.

“Today, we want to say that we will stand by the governor in all his trials and troubles that the detractors are going to present to distract him from office. We will be with him to fight them,” Gemade said.

Also speaking, former Chairman of the APC in Konshisha, Alhaji Abubakar Nyongo, said Alia’s coming had brought a lot of relief to the people of the state. “Many people have been in politics and we have not witnessed it this good. So, I’m telling my people, the Jechira constituency, that Alia is the one we chose and they should concentrate on him and support him to succeed.”

A member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Vandeikya/Tiev State Constituency,  Damkor Mathew, said: “Jechira as an intermediary is one and is 100 percent behind their son and Governor, Rev Fr Alia. The coach never changes his winning team. If he is performing, there is no need for other Jechira sons to contest. If the essence is to deliver good governance, Alia is doing perfectly well and is delivering in his mandate. There is no basis for any contest again.”

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Konshisha LGA, Rev Vincent Guda, said all the clergy in Jechira were solidly supporting him to succeed in leading the state to a greater height.

He said: “We are the clergy and Alia is a cleric. He is doing the right thing and just as others are saying, when he came into office, things were not done properly, like the payment of salaries and pension. So, we the clerics, have started praying for him and by the grace of God, things are moving very well. We are behind him to do his eight years just as others did.

“If we have our way, we will add another four years to make it 12 years because the Benue people are happy with him.”

In the same vein, former Chairman of Konshisha LGA, Mrs Mwuese Bebe, said: “The women do not have a problem with our Governor. He is doing very well and we are solidly behind him. We encourage him to stand firm and be ready to consult as consultation is important in politics. The women of Jechira are ready to support and stand by him to succeed.”

He appreciated the Governor for appointing women into his cabinet saying, “we wish he should try to bring more women to his cabinet.”