June 02, (THEWILL) – Former Economic Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Ode Ijowu, has described Benue State as an embarrassment to the nation over its aberration as the food basket of the nation.
Prof. Ijowu, who stated this at a symposium in Makurdi to mark Governor Hyacinth Alia’s one year in office, advised the Governor against buying fertiliser from intermediaries as some of it was given to politicians.
He decried the death of monuments put in place by past leaders of the state due to lack of maintenance.
“In 1984 when Alia was 14 years, I was the commissioner for finance in Benue State. 40 years ago, the issue of salary was resolved and after 40 years, Governor Alia is still resolving the issue of salary in the state,” he said.
According to him, former governor Aper Aku of blessed memory had established companies but such are dead or moribund due to mismanagement.
While passing a vote of confidence in Governor Alia for achieving a lot within a year in office, Prof. Ijowu called for the sustenance of such virtues and advised the Governor to push and shout for help where necessary.
He advocated for a policy in which the Government would know the farmers so that farming incentives would go directly to them to achieve the set target.
In his remarks, the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Festus Faunter, noted that the presidential Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2023 general elections almost threw the APC off board, noting that Alia was able to deliver Benue to President Bola Tinubu based on his popularity.
While noting that change is always opposed, he charged Governor Alia not to use distraction as a basis to fail the Benue people, saying: “You have the support of the Benue people to deliver dividends to them. The party is supreme but victory is superior. You have to remain focused to top what you have done so far in office.”
The APC National Women leader, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele, also commended Governor Alia for ensuring that women are part of his administration, describing his administration as women-friendly.
Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia said the masses are the drivers of democracy who should determine the suitability of any candidate in an election.
“The work done by the priest is what is done by democracy. When they said Alia is politically inexperienced, yes, I’m inexperienced in failure, corruption and cheating.
“My administration experienced a tough takeoff. The very people are those who tilted the plane the more if not make it to fall. I’m still for the poor, orphans and the common man,” he said.
