Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State emphasized that his administration is focused on delivering good governance for the people, rather than catering to a select group of influential individuals.
He made this statement while speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Governor Alia said the purpose of his visit was to brief the President on the security and ecological challenges facing Benue State.
According to Governor Alia, it is the ordinary citizens, not those who see themselves as power brokers, who are the true backbone of democracy and who elected him to serve.
“I am here to serve the people, not the so-called bigwigs. We must govern with conscience, and that’s why I take the masses seriously. Being a servant leader makes the difference. I’ve been out there, and I know where it hurts them most. People should take it easy on themselves and on the poor masses,” he said.
He further shared that his administration is focused on empowering the people of Benue, particularly the youth. He revealed that over 10,000 young people are being trained in digital skills, and the state is sponsoring youth to China for skills acquisition programs.
“We have sent some youths to China to gain new skills, ensuring they are empowered and productively engaged. There’s no reason for food insecurity in our state. Although insecurity had slowed progress in some local government areas, we are moving forward. Next week, we will be hiring 9,700 well-trained teachers to strengthen our education sector,” Governor Alia stated.
On security, he noted that peace has largely returned to Benue’s 23 local government areas, with only minor disturbances in three areas. He also mentioned that the state has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of the upcoming release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, while urging the Federal Government to dredge the River Benue.
Governor Alia dismissed claims that he was imposing candidates ahead of the October 5 Local Government elections, reaffirming that his administration is committed to fair and democratic processes.