From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Over 4,450 supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and other political parties in Benue State, have dumped their parties to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
The defection took place in Sankera, comprising Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala local government areas and in Kwande and Ushongo LGAs during the commencement of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s statewide tour to thank the people who overwhelmingly voted for him in the March 2023 election.
Speaking at the Akume Atonho Stadium in Katsina Ala, he thanked the people of Sankera for their overwhelming support.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to return all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the armed herdsmen attacks to their ancestral homes to continue their normal farming activities.
Alia, who expressed concern that Sankera, which is the hub for yam production in the country was greatly hit by the attacks from armed bandits, said the issue of security is not the responsibility of the government alone, and enjoined all citizens to join hands with him in the onerous task of ridding the state of attacks.
He also urged the people to form cooperative societies through which they would receive farm inputs and other benefits from his administration to develop themselves to be self-reliant.
The Governor also debunked reports that he had borrowed huge sums of money from foreign financial institutions to execute infrastructural projects in the state, explaining that the award of contract for the construction of the Sankera-Chito-Vaase Road was to help check the worsening insecurity situation bedevilling the area.
He said he had contacted President Bola Tinubu to assist the state construct more road networks in Sankera, and he graciously approved the construction of the Katsina-Ala Head Bridge-Hausa Quarters/Victory Bible Church Wukari Junction; the Zaki-Biam Yam Market-Iwar Ior-Y Junction Roads, urging the people to be patient with the President as he meant well for the state.
Speaking on behalf of his constituents, the member representing Ukum, Logo and Ukum federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Solomon Wombo, endorsed Alia for a second term.
Wombo said Sankera people have unanimously endorsed the governor to recontest because of the track record of achievements he has put on the sand of history within his one year in office, which he said no governor of the state has ever recorded.
The lawmaker frowned at the growing insecurity situation ravaging the area from the activities of local militia and armed herdsmen, and appealed to the Governor to tackle the menace for the development of Sankera to enable residents to go back to their farms.
In his remark, a former governorship aspirant in the party in the 2023 general elections, Barnabas Gemade described Alia’s coming as a divine event.
He said: “The priest is a representative of God on earth. For that reason, if a priest has been assigned a responsibility, he does not need a godfather. A priest that represents God here on earth has no business with another human being calling himself a godfather.”
Gemade, also called Nomiyange (shining bright star), said he has seen that Governor Alia came out with his sun which shines more and stronger than his.
“So, I decided to retreat from doing any other work, but to support him to do those things that God Almighty has asked him to do, which will bring development to Benue State, and he is already doing them. I have only one thing to tell you people of Sankera. You must embrace unity and support Alia’s administration to succeed,” he appealed.
Also speaking, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Paul Biam, hailed the one year scorecard of the Alia’s administration, saying it has surpassed those of his predecessor.
Biam said that the Alia’s administration has a programme of stomach infrastructure for the people after critical projects might have been attended to, to enable the people have the feel of the government.
“After roads and other infrastructural development, the governor will resort to stomach infrastructure, and the cries of hunger will be a thing of the past,” he added.
In Kwande and Ushongo LGAs, Governor Alia, who also appreciated the people’s support to him, promised to reciprocate the gesture through the construction of the Adikpo-Mbape-Ada Road to link the state to neighbouring Cross River State.
He commended the chairman of Kwande LGA for lighting up Adikpo town within a few days in office, but lamented the insecurity situation in the local government, especially the armed herdsmen attacks and the illegal mining activities, and tasked traditional rulers to join hands with authorities and ensure that anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.
The state acting chairman of the APC, Mr. Benjamin Omakolo, urged the people to continue to support Alia’s administration to take the state to the next level of development.
Our correspondent reports that the masses came out en masse to receive him, with some bearing placards that have different inscriptions in solidarity with the governor. Some of the placards read: “The Peoples Governor, thank you for reconstructing our Roads,” “Our Governor, thank you for bringing our bones back to life,” and “Dr Hyacinth Alia Zan Zan 2031,” meaning he will be Governor until 2031 among others.”