The Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs and Special Duties, Senator George Akume, has said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima-led Federal Government will support the incoming Benue State government under Rev. Hycint Alia to grow the state’s economy.
Addressing reporters at his Judges’ Quarters yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, Akume described the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections as free and fair.
The minister, who is also a former governor of the state, said the polls conformed with international standards.
He recalled that in the past eight years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in Benue State destroyed the economy and turned the residents to beggars.
He said,
“For the past eight years in Benue State, civil servants and pensioners saw hell due to the poor governance exhibition by the ineptitude of the PDP administration.
“But I want to assure you that Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia will wipe away the tears of the people of Benue through his sound economy plan.
“Politics is about the interest of the people. And when the people are not happy, they speak. And they have spoken loud and clear that there is time for change. That was basically what was expressed last Saturday.
“The people are expecting so much from this government, that is, the incoming government. At my own personal level, I was so thrilled about what has happened. I also expect that the new government will live according to the expectations and aspirations of the people of Benue State who have suffered incalculable damage in the past eight years.
“They are totally committed to …a new dawn where development is central to the administration of the state for the benefit of our people.”
Commenting on the performance of outgoing Governor Samuel Ortom, the minister said,
“I made a covenant that I didn’t want to comment about the Ortom administration. I didn’t help Ortom; Ortom was put into office by the Holy Spirit. I wasn’t the one. It was the Holy Spirit that made him the Governor of the Holy Spirit.
“So, I don’t want to talk about it. When issues of religion are involved, one needs to be very careful. Is it true that the Holy Spirit did that? It was he that said the Holy Spirit did that. Initially, it looked like I was the one because that was the story. But it later moved to the Holy Spirit.
“So, when it gets to that level, I withdraw because as a God-fearing man, you have to be careful. That’s all I have to say.”
Akume expressed confidence that the governor-elect would make the people of Benue State proud.
He stated,
“The incoming governor has an elaborate plan for the people of Benue State. He is aware of the problem that has confronted us: the difficulties that we have faced, the deficiencies observed, the position of essential amenities, the provision of health care service, and the issue of educational performance in the state.”
“So, there are so many issues that are begging for solutions. This is basically an agricultural state and his programme is rich in agricultural content. This is in synergy with the Asiwaju tinubu/Shettima administration. They have made a strong promise to help Benue, to rebuild, restart and recover from eight years of neglect, from eight years of hopelessness, eight years of wastefulness. So, it is so rich and engaging.”
Akume made a distinction about the debts of Benue State under the outgoing administration.
He added,
“There are good and bad debts. So, we will look at the good ones. The bad debts: for those who approved them, that is their business. But for the good ones; we look for ways of rescheduling. That is where the Federal Government will come in, and those who are elected at the federal level.
“A new government is the dawn of progressiveness, a dawn of development, a dawn of prosperity. Benue will bounce back, I assure you of that.”
