June 30, (THEWILL) – Mixed reaction have trailed the performance of Benue State governor, Revd Fr Hyacinth Alia’s first thirty days in office, with the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), scoring him low.
“PDP in Benue state observes that governor Alia has achieved within this period the worst take-off in office since the return to civil governance to the country in 1999.
“PDP’s observation derives from an assessment of the governor’s start in office compared to his predecessors within the same period in view.”
In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Bemgba Iortyom, noted that Governor Alia’s credit so far has been a half-hearted attempt at payment of wages to workers, which it said, excluded the entire local government workers, staff of the Benue State University, primary school teachers and staff of Universal Basic Education Board, as well as secondary school teachers and staff under the Teaching Service Board (TSB).
“What this means is that roughly about 70% of the workforce of the state went unpaid from the governor’s much hyped gesture, which it is even unclear from which source he funded the exercise that has since been dismissed as a mere popularity stunt.”
According to PDP, governor Alia can also within this period be seen getting increasingly entangled in a self-spurn web of supremacy battles with stakeholders and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as poking his fingers into everything controversial including direct involvement in the politics of transport unions in the state.
“The governor, after a full month in office has failed abysmally where the consideration is stamping an imprint as may pass for the defining paradigm of his government.
“By contrast, George Akume as Governor in 1999 had by this time stamped the welfarism paradigm of his administration which targeted to revive a people pathetically impoverished by decades of military dictatorship, as was encapsulated in the maxim, reviving people to strength before teaching them to fish.”
The party pointed out that only a month in office, Akume had deployed his experience and exposure as a thorough bred civil servant and politician who knew Benue terrain and possessed the right levels of social connect within it; saying Gabriel Suswam as Governor was effective by one month in infrastructure drive of his administration setting to work on the transformation of Makurdi the capital city with the building of grade A asphalt roads and streets with pavements and walkways.
Suswam earned for himself the title of ‘Mr Infrastructure’, which was conferred on him by a reputable media house for his massive impact in the area of infrastructural linkages across the state.
He said Governor Ortom by the first month had identified the need to straighten the inherited accounts of government which he set out doing with a focus that saw the constitution of Commissions of Inquiry with clearcut status under law and operational guide.
“Ortom by one month in office had moved decisively to achieve the released funds for accreditation of School of Health Sciences at BSU leading to the graduation of the first batch of doctors after 12 years stagnation; released funds for accreditation of School of Nursing and Midwifery; Implementation of N18,000 minimum wage for primary school teachers, reached agreement with ASUU in BSU and ended the then ongoing strike and paid two months salaries to all categories of workers including local government staff and teachers.
“Governor Alia after a month in office ranks by far the worst compared to all of his 3 predecessors, and this PDP observes may not be unconnected with the governor’s lack of administrative exposure and political experience prior to his coming to power.”
PDP, therefore, urge governor Alia to rise to the occasion and face up to the reality that governance and flowery campaign promises are worlds apart, and to henceforth talk less and do more for the good of the state.
In his assessment, a Makurdi based Journalist, Comrade Tamenor Kwaghzer, said governor Alia would have constituted the Executive Council which is not in place after thirty days in office.
According to him, governor Alia has toyed the way of former president Muhammadu Buhari who waited for six months to select cabinet ministers failed to deliver the needed expectation for Nigerians.
“Governor Alia as clergyman may be sourcing for those that can deliver the goods which may have accounts a delay in the constitution of the State Executive Council; noting that the one month salary paid to Benue workers after seven months of starvation has fallen short of expectation.
According to Comrade Kwaghzer, the alleged seizure of N62 billion or money left behind by the immediate past administration of former governor Samuel Ortom is already creating suspicion in the system.
Reacting, the former Chief Press Secretary to the former Speaker of the Benue State House of assembly, Hon Sam Agbo, expressed delight in the Alia administration in the choice of the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Chief of Staff and the Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, within a short time in office.
Mr Agbo, however, expressed reservation that somebody who campaigned and become governor-elect before inauguration would have known who is going to make commissioners’ list.
According to Hon Agbo, the appointments of Head of Parastatals in the state on acting capacity is not the best for the administration, however, commended the administration for honouring the date for payment of one month salary on Sunday.
