Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Benue State, has lavished praise on Governor Hyacinth Alia's administration, stating that the governor's development projects will make him memorable to generations of Benue people for 100 years. Ogenyi made these remarks during an interview on Idoma Television's The Conversation. He highlighted the governor's interventions in various sectors, including roads, water, healthcare, education, and industrial development, particularly in Benue South Senatorial District.
Ogenyi initially expressed doubts about Alia's capacity to govern the state during the 2023 APC governorship primary. However, after two years in office, Ogenyi said the governor had proved him wrong. The APC chieftain cited the governor's intervention in flood control as one of the issues that changed his assessment. He noted that previous administrations had struggled with flooding in the state, especially in Makurdi, but the Alia administration had constructed drainage channels and redirected water into River Benue, effectively ending the annual flooding.
The APC chieftain listed several road projects in Benue South, demonstrating what he described as an even distribution of infrastructure across the state. These projects include a 42-kilometre road from Igumale to Agila, which is 80% complete, and the Obagaji–Okokolo–Agagbe road, which is nearing completion. Ogenyi also mentioned the Oju–Awajir road, which cuts across communities in the zone, and other roads approved by the state government, including the Igumale–Agila road and roads around Ogbadibo and Ugbokolo.
Ogenyi explained his statement that Benue would not forget Alia in 100 years, citing the governor's provision of potable water to communities that previously had no access to it. He said that the water would last for over 100 years and that the people would continue to remember the governor. Ogenyi also referenced road construction in communities that had become inaccessible during the rainy season, noting that residents had to push vehicles through mud before the state government's intervention.
The APC chieftain highlighted the rehabilitation of the Otobi Waterworks, which received N1.57 billion in counterpart funding from the state government. He said this intervention was necessary due to prolonged water shortages in Otukpo. Ogenyi added that the government was working on the Adoka Dam in Otukpo, which would help resupply water to Otukpo and surrounding communities.
Ogenyi listed primary healthcare development among the administration's interventions in Zone C, including projects in local government areas such as Ogbadibo and Oju. He also mentioned the rehabilitation and renovation of primary and secondary schools across the state, as well as the modernization of schools and the recruitment of about 10,000 teachers. Ogenyi cited the governor's efforts to strengthen the education sector.
Ogenyi acknowledged that some projects predated the Alia administration but argued that several major projects were conceived and initiated by Alia. These projects include the dualisation of Makurdi Township Road, street lighting in Makurdi, a juice concentrate factory, a nail production factory, and a brewery. He also mentioned a fertiliser blending plant and the revival of Taraku Mills, stating that Benue had become an industrialized state under Alia's leadership.
Key points
- Gov Alia's development projects will make him memorable to generations of Benue people for 100 years.
- The governor's interventions in roads, water, healthcare, education, and industrial development have changed the state's landscape.
- Ogenyi initially doubted Alia's capacity but now praises his administration's achievements.
