Ex-Gov not responsible for your inadequacies, Group replies Rev Fr Hyacinth

A group under the auspices of the ‘Tiv Youth Patriotic Front’ has called on Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, not to blame his successor for his inadequacies, failures, and poor handling of the state.

The group was reacting to the warning handed down by Governor Alia to his predecessors on Friday.

Governor Alia, while speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Friday upon his return from the United States of America, had warned his predecessors not to interfere in his government.

The governor had said, “I can’t allow anyone, whether a former governor or Civil Servant. If you are a former governor and you have nothing to contribute to Benue, shut up. You had your term, you went through it, allow the administration to work.

“You did your part and if you are in the state, know exactly what you are saying. Criticisms are welcomed, but verify your facts.”

While reacting to the governor’s warning, the Tiv socio-cultural group, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Yoosu Sooter Daniel, criticized Alia for running the state like a parish house and turning around to blame his predecessors for his failures.

He said, “How could Governor Alia, who has frozen the state’s accounts thereby paralyzing day-to-day running of government, accuse his predecessors of interfering in his government?

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“The governor has been solely responsible for the actions and inaction of his government, thereby creating a rift between him and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“How then does he find it convenient to accuse his predecessors of interference?” the group asked.

The group alleged that despite claims that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law were still in force, it had discovered that cows are grazing openly in the state without being arrested by the livestock guards.

According to the group, the law prohibiting open grazing in Benue State has been tactically relaxed, thereby raising questions if the action was in line with the reconciliation and co-existence agenda canvassed by the Governor during the campaigns.

The group called on Governor Alia to fulfill his campaign promises of resettling the IDPs back to their ancestral homes, clearing arrears of salaries, pensions, and gratuities as it is the case in all other states of the federation.

The group further urged Governor Alia to implement the anti-open grazing law to curtail herdsmen from killing Benue people and taking over their lands and to prioritize security.

The Tiv youths also called on the governor to concentrate on the business of governance and desist from propaganda.

“We call on Governor Alia to stop shouting wolf when there is none and to stop chasing shadows and concentrate on the business of governance.

“Government is not run by blackmail and propaganda, and there is a need to advise the governor to leave his predecessors alone and accept his failures; nobody is interfering in his government.”