Not fewer than 4459 parties faithful from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties, on Wednesday, defected from their parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
The events took place in Katsina-Ala as well as in Kwande and Ushongo Local Government Areas during the commencement of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s state-wide ‘thank you’ tour to extend his appreciation to the people for voting him in 2023 general elections.
Speaking during the events held at Katsina-Ala township stadium and LGEA primary school Kwande town respectively, Governor Alia appreciated the people for their overwhelming support given to him during the last elections.
He reiterated his administration’s determination to return all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of armed herdsmen attacks back to their ancestral homes to continue normal farming activities.
He expressed concern that the Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, which is the hub for yam production in the country was greatly hit by attacks perpetrated by armed bandits.
The Governor maintained that the issue of security is not the responsibility of government alone, and enjoined all and sundry to join hands with him in the onerous task to rid the state of attacks.
He also urged the people to form cooperative societies through which they would receive farm inputs and other benefits from his administration to develop themselves to be self-reliant.
Alia who bruised aside widespread reports that he had borrowed huge sums of money from foreign financial institutions to execute infrastructural projects in the state, announced the award of contract for the construction of the Sankera-Chito-Vaase road to help check the worsening insecurity situation bedeviling the area.
He said he had contacted President Bola Tinubu to assist the state construct more roads network in Sankera and he graciously approved construction of the Katsina-Ala Head Bridge-Hausa Quarters/Victory Bible Church Wukari Junction; the Zaki-Biam Yam Market-Iwar Ior-Y Junction roads, urging the people to be patient with the President as he has meant well for the state in the area of development projects.
Speaking on behalf of his constituents, the member representing Ukum, Logo and Ukum federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Solomon Wombo, endorsed Governor Alia for a second term.
Wombo said Sankera people have unanimously endorsed the governor to contest again because of the track record of achievements he has put on the sand of history within his one year in office which he said no governor of the state had ever recorded.
The federal lawmaker frowned at the growing insecurity situation bedeviling the area which he said is in dual fold including local militia and armed herdsmen and appealed to the governor to tackle the menace for the development of Sankera to enable residents go back to their farms.
Collaborating Hon. Wombo’s position, the governor’s Chief of Staff, Paul Biam, hailed the one year scorecard of the Alia’s administration which he noted have surpassed those of the immediate past governor.
Biam hinted that the Alia’s administration has a programme of stomach infrastructure for the people after critical projects might have been attended to, to enable the people have the feel of government.
“After roads and other infrastructural development, the governor will resort to stomach infrastructure and the cries of hunger will be a thing of the past”.
At Kwande/Ushongo, Governor Alia appreciated the people’s support to him and promised to reciprocate the gesture via the construction of the Adikpo-Mbape-Ada road to link the state to neighbouring Cross River state.
He commended chairman of the local government for lighting up Adikpo town within few days in office, but lamented the insecurity situation in the local government especially the armed herdsmen attacks and the illegal mining activities, and tasked traditional rulers to rise up by ensuring that anyone caught confronts the full wrath of the law.
Receiving the decamped members, the state Acting chairman of the APC, Benjamin Omakolo, assured them of equal and maximum opportunity in the party.
He urged the people to support the Alia’s administration to take the state to the next level of development.
