MIDDLE BELT YOUTH FORUM APPLAUDS GOV. ALIA FOR CREATING NEW WARDS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
14th April, 2024
The All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AMBYF) has applauded the Benue State governor, Dr. Hyacinth Alia, for creating more wars in the state.
The Forum, in a statement signed by Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, its National Leader, said it was happy that the governor, by his action, had studied and understood why past administrations did not perform maximally, hence the actions being taken by him since he mounted the saddle of governance.
It noted that the governor’s background as a Catholic Priest gave him the strength to withstand all pressures from detractors.
The AMBYF stressed that Governor Alia had taken a bold step to deliver the dividends of democracy by paying attention to the Local Government Areas, which had remained the cash cow to past governors, to ensure free access and connection to the grassroots.
It stated: “Two weeks ago the state government organised a two-day retreat for all the 23 LGA Caretaker Chairmen in Makurdi where he charged them to be prudent with the resources coming to their Local Governments and that they should not live extravagant lifestyles on tax payers’ money.
“Just like Napoleon Bonaparte said, a leader is a dealer in hope so Gov. Alia has come to restore our hope in our Local Government Areas again.
“John C Maxwell opined that leaders must be close enough to relate, but far enough ahead to motivate them. This was demonstrated recently by the administration of Gov. Hyacinth Alia through Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) requesting for memoranda from communities, interest groups and individuals for creation of new wards out of the existing ones.
“He plans for immediate conduct of credible, fair and transparent elections into those wards in less than two months.
“It is crystal clear that the governor is poised to spring a surprise as he has promised not to interfere in the election, based on the fact that all candidates, irrespective of political party affiliations, are first, Benue State indigenes, and can work with him to bring about the new order he is championing.
“Before now, governors used to tell us that they have no money to conduct a ‘selection’ of Local Government Area elections because they do not place value on the third tier of government.
“I said selection because in those days, no other party dared to contest as it would be an exercise in futility. But, with Gov. Alia, there will be an enabling environment for other parties to sponsor their candidates to slug it out with the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the first time.”
The Forum continued: “In this area, Gov. Hyacinth Alia has done wonderfully well and should be praises by all to encourage him to do more.
“As a Youth Leader in the Middle Belt, I call on all Middle Belt Youth and by extension, the Benue and women that are always at the receiving end, to join hands with Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who has so far demonstrated that he is ready to serve us and not be served.
“Gov. Hyacinth Alia has won my heart and many others for his ability to initiate Local Government Reform. Before now, it was a mirage to say our Local Governments are a third tier of government as those Chairmen and Chairperson were like an employee to the former governors.
“Today, Gov. Alia administration is redefining and giving our Local Governments a sense of belonging to effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to all Benuelites at the grassroots, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”
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