Benue 2027: For Alia, it’s one term to lay the foundation, another to build – Kula

As political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum, the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, has called for continuity in governance, arguing that sustained development requires sufficient time for policies and reforms to produce tangible results.

Kula, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, said Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration should be given the opportunity to consolidate its efforts, describing the first term as a period for laying the foundation for sustainable development and a second term as an opportunity to build on it.

He argued that governance should not be reduced to the pursuit of immediate applause through highly publicised projects, noting that meaningful development requires careful planning, institutional strengthening and consistent implementation of policies.

According to him, Governor Alia inherited a state facing serious challenges, including insecurity, unpaid obligations, weak institutions, youth unemployment and a struggling economy, which he said could not be resolved within a single budget cycle.

He said, “Politics in Benue is usually very interesting and this is more so because, more often than not, it is always treated like a race for immediate applause instead of lasting legacies.

“On that strength, every administration wants quick projects, loud ribbon-cutting ceremonies and visible but ephemeral promises. However, sadly, real development takes time and this is because a house is not built by painting the walls before laying the foundation, but this is the situation we were witnessing in Benue before the coming of Governor Alia.

“That is why the argument for Governor Hyacinth Alia in 2027 deserves serious consideration. An administration deserves one term to figure out the real problem, lay the foundation, and another to build on the foundation laid.

“Governor Alia took over the reins of Benue State at a really difficult moment, having been handed a state that was bleeding, a state that was haemorrhaging. Before the coming of Alia, Benue faced insecurity, unpaid obligations, weak institutions, youth unemployment and a struggling economy.

“These problems are not going to disappear because Alia simply wishes them to disappear; they won’t disappear through one budget or one political season. They require patience, discipline and continuity in commitment.”

The governor’s spokesman maintained that the administration’s first term should be assessed based on the challenges it inherited and the measures being taken to address them, rather than solely on the number of projects completed.

He identified transparency in public finance, regular payment of workers’ salaries, improved education and healthcare, better road networks, enhanced security and agricultural development as critical indicators for evaluating the government’s performance.

Kula further cited the need for accessible roads linking farming communities to markets, noting that farmers in Mbagwaza require motorable routes to transport cassava to Ihugh, Lessel and Adikpo, while traders in Agila and Gbajimba need safer roads to reach commercial centres.

He also stressed the importance of functional classrooms and accessible healthcare facilities, saying residents of Vandeikya and Obi, among other communities, need practical improvements in public services that directly affect their livelihoods.

According to him, the administration’s first four years should focus on strengthening local administration, restoring public confidence, improving security, supporting agriculture and creating an enabling environment for private investment.

He added that a second term would provide an opportunity to expand these efforts, complete ongoing projects and translate reforms into measurable development outcomes.

Kula warned that frequent changes in policy direction could slow progress, arguing that successive administrations should build on existing foundations instead of repeatedly starting afresh.

He said, “Continuity should not mean researching what is already known to the current administration. It should mean giving credible policies enough time to mature while holding the government accountable.”

The governor’s spokesman expressed optimism about the state’s development trajectory under Alia, insisting that Benue was moving from a negative position to a positive one.

He advised that the debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election should focus on the administration’s performance, the foundations it has established and the extent to which its policies are improving the lives of residents.