Why we shunned hunger strike in Benue – TYO

Form Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The umbrella organisation of Tiv youths worldwide, the Tiv Youth Organisation (TYO), has accused lawmakers and federal government appointees from Benue State of neglecting youths, even amid the ongoing hunger strike in the country.

The youths also debunked claims by the Benue Assembly Caucus and the Federal Appointees Forum that they provided direction and support to Benue youths in their decision to shun the nationwide protest.

The spokesperson for the Forum of Local Government Unit Presidents of TYO, Comrade Vincent Kaior, while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday, said their refusal to join the nationwide protest was to honour the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who appealed to them to shelve their plans.

“We see him as a man with a focused vision. We saw that any attempt to join that protest would have been an opportunity for enemies of progress to seize the moment and wreak havoc in the state, with the fine infrastructure built as their target.”

Kaior recalled that leaders of the two groups, in a publication dated 2 August 2024, showered praises on Benue youths for resisting the temptation to join the ongoing national protest, describing this as wisdom that saved the state from chaos and instability and prevented the wanton destruction of lives and property.

While they commended the forum for appreciating them for always choosing the right path to ensure peace and enhance development, the youths said, “It would have been wonderful had the publication ended there.

“However, going further, the forum assured us of providing direction and leadership for the youths. They also assured us of their support.”

The TYO spokesperson said that while preparations for the nationwide protest were in top gear, no member of the said group bothered to come home to address the youths and enjoin them to shun the protest.

“Instead, it was the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who was dutifully up and doing, putting in great effort, which informed our decision to choose peace over protest.

“We shunned the protest in solidarity with the laudable feats achieved by the Governor within the short time he has been in office,” naming massive political appointments/employment of youths, construction of township roads, procurement of vehicles for security operatives, revival of several state-owned moribund companies, prompt payment of workers’ emoluments, pensions and gratuities, provision of relief materials to IDPs, and the supply of subsidised herbicides and fertiliser to farmers, among others.”

They expressed hope that Governor Alia would take the cries occasioned by the current hardship to the President for onward action to bring relief.

While acknowledging that the lawmakers and appointees may have put in some effort in offering support to the youths, TYO said their support is not felt as much as they made it sound.

“We hear it more in your words than feel it in your actions. Noticeably, our relationship with you, our leaders, blossoms during electioneering but turns very cold once it’s time for governance.

“If you care about us the way you want us to believe, then most of our challenges, including our welfare, would be far better off.”

They said that despite their support for the federal appointees of Tiv extraction, the Tiv Youth Organisation, the umbrella body of youths of Tiv extraction, has never received any palliatives or relief materials from the forum since the beginning of the current dispensation, be it during festivities or any season.

They noted that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu encourages agriculture, preaching local food production, the forum has never released incentives, herbicides, or fertiliser to the Tiv Youth Organisation to enhance food productivity.

Kaior, who expressed TYO’s willingness to support the leaders, urged them to close the gulf that exists between them to enhance the greater development of the state.

Having also shunned the protest for peace to reign in the state, TYO called on one faction of the ruling APC to shelve their planned meeting and give peace a chance, especially now that many parts of the country are experiencing turbulence occasioned by the nationwide protest.

TYO also called on the leaders of the state to help the National President of the organisation, who has been critically ill with complicated internal organ infections.

They appreciated Prince Solomon Wombo for his support and urged others to assist him.

The youths told the leaders, “We appeal that you put into practice the support you preach, beginning with your absolute show of concern over the ill-health of our President. This will go a long way in restoring the confidence and belief you want us to have in your words.”