Gov. Alia To Ex-governors: Criticise Based On Facts, Or Shut Up
Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has warned former governors of the State desperately out to destabilise his administration to shut up and understand that their tenure was over.
Alia however said that criticisms based on verified facts are welcome for him and his administration but, not the deliberate act of just sitting in some corner and planning to destabilize his administration which he stressed was not acceptable.
This was as he also declared that there was no justification whatsoever for anyone to discredit the youths of the state by calling the unacceptable and derogatory names.
Governor Alia, who stated these when he received different youth groups that went to welcome him back from an official trip to the United States of America, called on those calling the youths as thugs to tender an apology and desist from such.
He said; “If you are a former governor, concentrate on where you are. If you don’t have anything positive to contribute to Benue, shut up. Because you did you part, your terms came and it is over, therefore you must give peace a chance.
“You must allow this administration to carry out what we promised the people that we were going to carry out. It is very imperative to me that if you are in the state, know exactly what you are saying”.
Addressing the groups, Alia noted that it was unfair of anyone to tag the hardworking young people of the state as thugs, stressing that such derogatory terms give the state a bad name, stressing that the administration places premium on everybody in the state and will take it up to those trying to paint the state and its people bad.
In the words of Alia; “Any comment that does not go well with the image of the state and its very honourable individuals, this administration will take it up to you.
“When you see young people supporting this administration or working hard for the growth and development of Benue State, do not call them thugs. Whoever must have called the youths of the state thugs, first of all, I will like that person or those persons to withdraw that public statement.
“The youths of the state have suffered in the past so much that they are now gaining traction on sanity and development, and I wouldn’t want anyone to pocket them and have them stigmatized.
“If you don’t understand who a thug is, just shut up. Benue youths are thriving and are quite concerned about what happens here in the state and I will like everybody to honour them and to respect them,” he said.
While thanking the youths for standing firm, and for always supporting his administration, Governor Alia said that he was away in the United States of America to look for ways that will enable his administration chart a new course for Benue, especially as the state was disconnected from the International stage, particularly in the last 8years.
He further said; “Benue State was no longer on the International radar, and with the new Sherriff in town, we needed the whole world to know that Benue State is here; Benue State is the real deal and Benue State is the home for development. And with the way we have charted it now, Benue state is going to be a place where a number of states will be coming to enquire about what is happening here so that they take it back to their various states.”
Alia said Benue was amongst the 19 Northern states that were invited to USA by the United States Peace Institute in collaboration with establishments here in Nigeria, to rub minds and chart a way forward on the insecurity challenge the Northern states are wrestling with, and to see how peace can return to those states.
He said the meetings were successful and his administration will apply the solutions proffered to see how the security challenge can be curbed down in the state and therefore urged the people of the state to cooperate with the security agencies as well as charged the youth not to allow themselves to be used by anybody for their selfish interest and to also shun vices such as cultism, yahoo, kidnapping, saying that such have no place in the State.
The Governor also cautioned those making divisive statements to desist, as his administration considers peace as paramount thus, will not allow anyone irrespective of status to disrupt the peace in the state.
On youth employment, the governor said that already, some establishments such as the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) have started employing, and it will be a continuous process with many other establishments to follow.
Responding to the allegations by Comrade Festus Usifo, President of Trade Union Congress (TUC) that Benue and several other states have not made the welfare of their workers a priority, Governor Alia urged Usifo to always cross check his facts before going public, insisting that his administration has not deviated from its commitment with the workers.
In their separate remarks, the groups promised to continue to support the Alia led administration, especially as the governor has started laying a firm foundation to take the state to enviable heights.
