By Andrew Oota
Benue state is undoubtedly the food basket of Nigeria both in perception and reality .
Located in the North Central region Benue state shares common boarders with Taraba ,Cross River , Nassarawa and Enugu states which brings a huge commercial advantage to Benue in many ways than just agricultural exploits .
The right infrastructure, security , human capital development and well-thought Government policies will provide an enabling environment for micro and macro businesses to thrive giving the strategic location of the state .
As majorly aggrerian state with the right climate for yam production , cassava, all species of fruits , potatoes , crops ; the biggest challenge of Benue farmers has always been traced to fertilizers to boost farm growth ,storage facilities ,access roads ,multiple taxation and the recent wave of senseless killings and destruction of farm lands by herdsmen .
Benue state has equally suffered infrastructure dilapidation , non-payment of workers salaries and pensioners unleashed an unprecedented hardship on Benue workers which led to school drop-outs or out of school children for many years since 1983.
Successive Governments since advent of democracy in 1999 have only paid lip-services to this cascading situation.
It is important to note that the comatose or outright shut-down of industries established by the late Aper Aku regime in Benue state created an over-dependence on the unwilling successive administrations who’s involvement in spendthrift compounded an already precarious situation in the State.
The late Aper Aku had a proper vision for the state he governed a little above four years . His legacies and concept of leadership stands long after his death.
To many, Aper Aku lives!
With workers been owned years on one hand and inability of Government to intentionally subsidize farming implements in a state with sixty percent farmers, thirty percent civil servants and ten percent students/unemployed ; Benue state become vulnerable and suffers unprecedented vulnerability while those in authority smiled to there banks with breathtaking arrogance .
The ineffective leadership lacked the art,craft and world-view to arrest the galloping state of squalor,crime and geometric speed of backwardness since advent of democracy .
The most lucrative profession in Benue state since the return of democracy in 1999 remains partisan politics with sad commentaries of successes in leadership having to be measured by the size of the bank accounts of previous Governors, Commissioners and other appointees .
Political godfathers emerged and made indiscriminate and criminal choices on behalf of the State .
Democracy deliverables or dividends were reserved for the powerful few who suddenly developed a criminal sense of entitlement . The consequence of this absurdity is the epic disaster the state had to face for the years it lasted .
Shamefully , half salary arrears were first announced in places of worship where compromised ‘Men of God’ stood in authority while the congregation only wore helpless, long metallic smiles.
In most cases , those announced half salaries precedes foreign trips that eventually voids actually payments .
For each of the previous Governments in Benue state , the people became more poor.
Suffice to say that Benue state is endowed in both natural and human resources but was only handicapped by the skewed and corrupt leadership recruitment process.
The people remained confident and refused to resign to fate.
They prayed for a helper who will see there predicaments, a leader who will introduce a new order. They yearned for “Alialization” and God in His infinite mercy came to the rescue by first making the immediate past Government of the Peoples Democratic party in the state drunk and confused when it needed to be alert.
On assumption of office , the Benue state Governor, Rev. Fr. Haycinth Iormem Alia had his job well cut out.
A few days to his first year in office , the Governor has demonstrated courage ,skill and understanding of the complexities and expectations of the people .
The subsidy on fertilizer was received with great excitement by the peasant farmers and, his disposition towards full and all season farming are indicators that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
Less than a year in office, the “Alialization” regime has prioritized workers and pensioner’s wages with Internal Generated Revenue ,while the monthly allocations from the federations accounts are channelled into major infrastructure projects . Indeed, the Benue state has become a construction site to the admiration of the people .
Within his first year in office , the Government has remodeled critical Government establishments and there are plans to revamp industries that will mop up unemployment in the state and reduce the growing rate of insecurity .
Local Governments have returned to full independence through project executions and chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Benue state chapter and caretaker chairman for Konshisha local Government,Hon Phillips Achuah told our correspondent that ,” Benue state made the right choice in electing His Excellency,Rev.Fr. Haycinth Iormem Alia as Governor and Benue people will not regret this decision at any point “.
He continued,” This is a man who understands the yearnings and aspirations of his people . He will not make a decision that will inflict pains on his people ,he came well planned with an agenda to take Benue out of the dark and as his apostles we are wired in that same vision. The people must always come first and that is where we stand.
“We inherited a state at the brink of collapse occasioned by a monumental corruption . The Governor poised to return the state to her past glories and understandably some elements and forces of darkness will not like it, but we are not bothered about them, we are concerned about making our people happy and putting similes of there faces. Go round the state and conduct an opinion poll and you will see for yourself . And honestly for as long as the people are with us we are encouraged to continue to do our best for them”.
According to Hon.Achuah , “I think people should burry there heads in shame for squandering our collective wealth with arrogance . Those things they said are not possible are the same things the Governor is doing without making noise about it. I think people should turn themselves into anti-corruption cells and confess the crimes they committed against the people “.
An okada rider, Tersoo Kuma told our correspondent that ,” I am a graduate of sociology I lost hope in my state after graduation in 2017 but sincerely speaking I am now proud of my state .
” I told my parents I will never be a civil servant in Benue state but now I will be proud to be one because the Governor has made civil service attractive in Benue. Go to High level and see the underpass bridge that will last for generations yet unborn. Look at feeder roads . As for herdsmen attacks I won’t blame him completely but I urge him to redouble his efforts . Things are getting better except the killings but I am sure he will get a solution at the end of the day because he is a committed leader”.
Suffice to say , that the innovations at the Benue state university Teaching hospital with the state of the art facilities and professional personnel is one of the giant strides by the current Government .
Other institutions as the Benue State University, under professor Joe Tor Iorapuu as Vice chancellor are equally making remarkable strides including accreditation and introduction of more faculties ,courses and unbundling of many for optimum performance .
The creation of the small and medium businesses as well as micro financing Advisory portfolio by the Benue state Governor is another development if well managed will focus on promoting small businesses through soft loans with low interest rates to reboot the GDP and cause economic boom in the state .
However analysis are of the view that an intentional collaboration with the ministry of water Resources with the view to dredge the River Benue will further open up the state to business and investors .
According to Hon. Achuah ,”What the Governor is doing is to first open the state , when you open up the state through road networks and decongest the place you now delve into full investments . Even the dredging you talk about is something this Government is mindful of because the benefits are better imagined .
” When ships dock in Benue , there will be jobs. It will enhance our IGR ,the tourism sector will jump and the Governor is mindful of it. Certainly he will explore all avenues that will take Benue to her rightful place “.
