Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has called on prominent personalities and political leaders visiting the state to notify the state government ahead of their arrival. This appeal comes after the recent attack on the convoy of former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. Governor Alia acknowledged and appreciated Obi's decision to visit the affected communities, describing the visit as a demonstration of concern for the people.
Governor Alia expressed regret over the incident involving Obi's convoy and emphasized the need for advance notification to enable adequate security arrangements. As the chief executive and number one citizen of the state, he bears responsibility for the safety of residents and dignitaries visiting Benue. The governor noted that Benue had remained vulnerable to security challenges and that his administration had intensified efforts to secure communities considered particularly susceptible to attacks.
Governor Alia urged citizens to respect visitors to the state and promptly notify the appropriate authorities whenever prominent personalities plan to visit. He stressed that adequate security arrangements can only be effectively made when the government is informed ahead of time. The governor noted that Peter Obi is not only a former governor and elder statesman but also a presidential aspirant with large followers, and should, therefore, not be treated like an ordinary visitor.
The governor recalled that a similar situation occurred during a previous visit to the state when the government was allegedly not adequately informed ahead of the visitor's arrival. He said the people of Benue were witnessing significant development under his administration and could naturally be sensitive to unexpected visits by individuals perceived to have links with political leaders or groups associated with the state's past challenges.
Governor Alia urged the people to carefully assess political aspirants during campaign periods, advising them to distinguish between those who have demonstrated commitment to their welfare before elections and those who only make promises when seeking votes. He encouraged Benue citizens to scrutinize the track records of aspirants rather than relying solely on campaign promises.
The governor warned against supporting politicians who incur heavy debts to finance their election campaigns, arguing that such individuals could prioritize repaying political debts after assuming office rather than delivering meaningful dividends of democracy to the people. Governor Alia commended the police for apprehending 46 persons allegedly linked to the obstruction of Peter Obi's convoy, urging that anyone found culpable should face the law.
On the controversy surrounding his political identity, Governor Alia urged Nigerians to stop judging his performance in political office through the lens of his former priestly vocation. He explained that what matters is an individual's ability, determination, and commitment to delivering on the responsibilities of the position he or she occupies. The governor said he took the oath of office as governor with a clear mandate to rebrand Benue, make government work, and deliver a "New Benue Renaissance."
Key points
- Governor Alia appeals to political visitors to notify government in advance for security arrangements.
- Governor Alia urges citizens to assess political aspirants based on their track records.
- Governor Alia warns against politicians incurring heavy debts to finance election campaigns.
