The Governor of Benue State Rev. Fr Hyacinth Iormen Alia has clocked six months in office, the second Catholic priest, after the late Rev Fr. Moses Adasu to rule the state. The Nation correspondent, Uja Emmanuel, takes a look at how the reverend gentleman has fared so far in the Food Basket of the nation.
Governor Hyacinth Alia is one of the Chief Executives of states coming in to rule on a four-year tenure.
Many believed he had little knowledge of politics apart from his healing masses which attracted thousands of worshippers.
But the electorates trusted him with their mandate and voted him massively into office.
He defeated the eight-year ruling administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by a wide margin of votes.
Fr. Alia, a Catholic priest garnered 473,933 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), Titus Uba, who scored 223,913 votes on 21 March 2023.
It was the first time in the history of Benue that a governorship candidate polled such massive votes.
From the scores, it was clear indications that the voting pattern cut across party lines, religion, or ethnicity.
The Catholic priest, according to his Chief Press Secretary, CPS’ Sir Kula Tersoo, took over the helms of affairs of Benue at the most difficult times.
Hear Kula: “Governor Hyacinth Alia took over Benue State from ground zero, with no single vehicle, not even an ambulance, he used his old campaign vehicles until at a point in time we said No His Excellency get new vehicles because if something happens to you, it will not be in the interest of Benue state.”
The CPS said that was when the governor managed to get a few new vehicles on his convoy, but the problem of non-payment of civil servants, and pensioners in state and local government areas who had not been paid for more than two years by the PDP administration remained a cause of worry for the governor. He was greatly worried that workers were not paid for months.
He said retired sick men, women, and poor workers with no hope of salaries gave Governor Alia a headache and he was greatly worried because the state treasury was empty with huge debt, and starting was difficult because Benue people suffered.
Sir Kula told The Nation that Governor Alia took the hard but necessary decisions, Benue is now better for it, but with time Benue will be greater.
On assumption of office Governor Alia immediately blocked all government bank accounts, bringing government business to a total halt, heads of government agencies found it difficult to operate, especially emergency services like sanitation agencies, hospitals, and water boards among others.
The Governor also did total and comprehensive audits of the number of civil servants on its payroll, those retired, pensioners, ( both state and local governments), and public servants, went for three months without salaries until stock-taking was completed.
” We met huge debt but zero bank accounts, and we did even know how to start. In any case, Governor Alia took the risk because he campaigned for a solution, but let’s tell you it was not easy.
“To say Governor Alia started on a difficult footing rule Benue State is an understatement, but gradually there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as he clocked six months in office this November.
Civil Servants and pensioners who trusted him with their votes and elected him into office are the biggest beneficiaries, out of excitement Benue civil servants have declared the 25th, of every month as Holy Communion Day, this is so because since Gove
rnor Alia pronounced that they will be paid their salaries on 25th, nothing has changed.
The Catholic priest governor has prioritized payment of salaries and pension, including gratuity, once you retire and conclude your documentation, your money will be paid, said Kula Tersoo.
The Nation gathered that Governor Alia took steps to reduce the high cost of transport in Benue occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, out of the N2b from the Federal Government, the Governor immediately purchased 100 Toyota buses and ordered the state-transport-owned company called Benue Links to put them into commercial use and it has helped beat down transport fare within and interstate routes.
An investigation by The Nation also revealed that farmers are also partaking in the holy communion as Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has subsidized fertilizer at 50 percent a bag, which he said is to help Benue maintain her status as the food basket of the nation.
Township and rural roads are receiving attention, Commissioner for Works Imojime Tiza, said apart from the ongoing 16 road projects in Makurdi, to give the state capital a befitting look, Governor Alia, has taken the construction of roads to the Local Government Areas.
Market women and youths have received intervention funds from the government to boost their small-scale businesses, The Social Investment Programme, through school feeding programmes is activated to generate more employment and boost the economy of the state.
For the first time in the history of Benue State, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have a new lease of life as adequate attention is given to their plight and their exact number is ascertained for proper documentation.
Security of lives and property received a boast with traditional rulers given a major role now m
While Benue State was known for sustained herdsmen attacks on farmers, they no longer do it with impunity, just as there is assurance from the government that IDPs would soon return to their ancestral homes.
Governor Alia has for the first time taken steps to cut wasteful spending by establishing a due process office and appointing a seasoned journalist Daniel Gbabo as the Head of the Due Process office.
The Due process according to findings by The Nation is to properly scrutinize awards of contract figures, reduce the cost where necessary, and avoid duplications of government expenditure.
Observers said Governor Alia is the first to take such steps and decisions to save costs.
Another critical sector where Governor Alia has intervened and people are happy is the Benue State University of Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.
The hitherto dead CT scan and dialysis machines are back to life and the people have welcomed the appointment of DR Hwande Terungwa Stephen, as the new Chief Medical Director ( CMD).
Even though many Benue people said there is more work for Governor Hyacinth Alia to do and cover the ground, he has laid a solid foundation for a greater Benue.
The Foundation, according to an Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir Aondoakaa Iorpuu, can be seen in his young and energetic Commissioners who constitute members of the Benue Executive Council.
The board, heads of agencies, and parastatals have also been constituted and Governor Hyacinth Alia is good to go.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Kula Tersoo said that, at the end of November, all government accounts will be unfrozen, and real government business will start at a supersonic speed.
To Benue people, Fr. Alia is a Catholic priest and his main duty is to serve holy communion.
Like Benue civil servants are saying Las Las Holy Communion will reach everybody in Benue.
For Governor Alia, so far is so good.
