The acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Benjamin Omakolo, has said Governor Hyacinth Alia inherited a dead state and working hard to bring it back to life.
Omakolo, who made this known at Okpoga during the governor’s thank-you tour to the people of Enone comprising Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, said that with what the governor has done so far, all the nooks and crannies of the state will feel the dividends of democracy.
In his address, Governor Alia, who commended the Enone people for their confidence in him to lead the state, promised to revive the Igumale Cement factory and construct access roads in the area.
According to him, “It is important to construct roads here so that when investors come here, they will be driving on good roads, and farmers here will also have easy access to nearby markets to sell their farm produce. I will meet with the caretaker chairmen of the three local government areas and work out the modalities of constructing roads that will link all the areas.
“ Okpoga is also in darkness, and I will soon light up the area with 5,000 kw electricity. I have come to reduce your pains and suffering. Continue to support my administration and be patient with President Bola Tinubu, who has good policies for the people of Benue and other Nigerians.”
The governor also revealed that he inherited over 359 billion naira owed to workers of the state for several years.”
While taking a swipe at the previous administration for failing to pay workers’ salaries, he also accused it of lying to the people that the federal government denied them funds to pay salaries.
He promised that his administration would continue to prioritise the payment of workers’ salaries, announcing that civil servants in the state would be paid from the 22nd of every month.
Earlier, a former senatorial candidate and chieftain of APC, Daniel Onjeh, called on the governor to match actions with words in fulfilling campaign promises to the people and urged him not to be distracted by the opposition’s blackmail.