May 28, (THEWILL) – Benue State Governor-elect, Revd Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is set to take the oath of office as the 6th Executive Governor of the state at the IBB Square, Makurdi, on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Towards this, the outgoing Governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, is billed to formally hand over the affairs of the state to Alia at the Benue People’s House Makurdi by 2:00pm on Sunday.
Governor Ortom, who announced this at a valedictory session to mark the end of his administration, said the time for politics is over and called on Benue People to support the incoming administration to surpass what he was able to do in the past eight years in office.
“Let me beg Benue People to end insults on me. Don’t extend it to Fr Alia because insults tend to distract a leader from being focus,” he stated.
Already, IBB Square, the venue of the ceremony, has been cleaned up of debris and adorned with various colours that befit the event of the day with various signposts bearing PDP torn off within Makurdi metropolis.
Last Saturday, over 40 support groups for Alia 2023 carried out special sanitation across major streets of Makurdi town including High level, Wurukum, Wadata, and Alia street along the PDP state secretariat, towards Brothers FM Radio to Alia’s private residence at New GRA, cutting glasses and sweeping the streets.
The State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Austin Agada, has expressed satisfaction with the arrangements put in place to ensure a hitch-free smooth transition of power to the APC Government of Revd Fr Alia.
According to him, the incoming administration will be people-oriented and workers and pensioners-friendly. He, therefore, called on stakeholders to sustain support irrespective of political background.
To ensure the success of the exercise, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Okoro Alawari Julius, has ordered all Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the Command to emplace adequate security in their areas of responsibility.
The CP stated this in an operation order designed by the Command and sent to various divisions, emphasising that the venue for the inauguration ceremony must be heavily secured with adequate manpower and relevant equipment to ensure serenity and orderliness.
He warned all Police Officers on duty to be very professional and civil in carrying out their duties.
“The Command wishes to also inform members of the public that there will be diversion around entry and exit routes within IBB Square, High-level Makurdi, as part of efforts to ensure free flow of traffic,” he stated.
In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, members of the public are urged to be law-abiding and cooperate with Officers on duty for a peaceful inaugural process.
The statement also warned non-state actors or aggrieved groups and individuals to channel such grievances to relevant authorities for redress.
CP. Okoro assures the people of Benue State of his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the people and sued for understanding and cooperation.
