From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia has declared emphatically that, he is not afraid of the Rainbow Coalition being sponsored in the State to distablize his developmental reform and thwart hls 2027 reelection bid.
He insisted that the coalition is a gang up by certain section of Benue people against his 2027 re-election.
The Rainbow Coalition is a political movement formed under the leadership of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Nyesom Barr Wike.
The national secretary of the Rainbow Coalition and State chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) loyal to the Secretary Government of the Federation)SGF) in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada, in a chat with journalists recently in Makurdi, had threatened that they would teach Governor Alia a lesson in 2027.
In swift response to Agada’s comments during an interaction with newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Governor said that he is aware and anticipated the gang up, stating that the entrenched interest is because is he is reforming the state.
The Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo said a reformer has no friend because he has ideas and therefore fears no any gang up.
He maintained that the administration of his boss is intensifying efforts to implement reforms across critical sectors, with the ultimate objective of improving the living conditions of residents.
According to him, the governor’s reform-driven approach informed the decision of the Tiv traditional council to confer on him the chieftaincy title of “Asortar u Benue,” meaning “The Reformer of Benue State.”
Kula insisted that the challenges confronting the administration were not unexpected, given the nature of the reforms being implemented to address longstanding problems in the state
“Governor Alia is not distracted but remains ficus more than ever before to deliver democratic dividend to the people. The beneficiaries of this administration including workers, markets women, youths and ths masses appreciates Alia good works and would re-elect him in 2027.
“People say there is a coalition, it is not strange. Austin Agada came to say they will teach the Governor a lesson. This is a man who failed to win his polling unit during the last election in 2023. He even engaged in anti-party activity and sold his vote to Senator Abba Moro of PDP and was lated suspended by his ward executive.
“People speak as if they are God. Governor Alia is with the masses of Benue State. Before becoming governor, as a priest, he was representative of the people and knew their challenges. Let the people come put and reject him”, the CPS said.
On the lingering political fight between the Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen George Akume, Kula insisted that the Governor is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state and cannot bow down to an individual but the masses.
While recalling the incident of primaries which suggested that the Presidency had instructed that all elected representatives should be given nomination, Kula insisted that the state has its political peculiarities as it respects rotational arrangement as well as performance of the individual, adding, “‘the Governor is a product of rotational arrangement”.
Commenting on the governor’s achievements, the spokesman stressed that the manner the baton was handed to him by his predecessor was terrible, highlighting that the state capital is experiencing urban renewal for the first timd after so many years.
He also said rural roads construction is ongoing, Intimating that the local government chairmen have been mandated to construct asphalted roads in their domain.
Kula added that there is a joint partnership between the state government and local government councils wherein the former contributes 60 percent and the latter 40 percent to embark on roads construction.
He mentioned the renovation of 4 primary health care centers have been renovated in all the 23 local government areas, construction of 250 million naira Food Center Project in Akpa, Otukpo LGA, employment of over 9,000 teachers amongst other achievements of the Governor, noting that Benue people have regained their dignity..
Asked about the state wage bill of the state, Kula said it fluctuates, disclosing that the state generates 2 bilkion naira as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR announcing that modalities are in place to offset all pension and salary arrears of State and local government staff.
