By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is not intimidated by the emerging Rainbow Coalition or its reported plans to challenge his re-election bid in 2027, his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, has said.
Kula made the position known while interacting with journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, describing the coalition as an alliance of political interests opposed to the governor’s administration and its reform agenda.
The Rainbow Coalition is reportedly associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Its reported national secretary, Austin Agada, had earlier threatened that the group would teach Governor Alia a political lesson in the 2027 elections.
Responding to the threat, Kula said the governor was aware of the political realignments and remained focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Benue State.
According to him, the opposition to the administration is driven by entrenched interests threatened by the governor’s reform policies.
“A reformer has no friend because he has ideas,” Kula said, adding that the governor was more determined than ever to fulfil his campaign promises.
He expressed confidence that workers, market women, youths and other residents benefiting from the administration’s programmes would support Alia’s re-election.
“People say there is a coalition; it is not strange. Austin Agada came out to say they would teach the governor a lesson. This is a man who failed to win his polling unit during the 2023 election,” Kula said.
He also accused Agada of engaging in anti-party activities during the last election and alleged that he was subsequently suspended by his ward executives. The allegations were not independently verified.
Kula maintained that Governor Alia enjoyed the support of ordinary Benue residents, arguing that his previous experience as a Catholic priest had given him an understanding of the challenges facing the people.
“Governor Alia is with the masses of Benue State. Before becoming governor, as a priest, he was a representative of the people and knew their challenges. Let the people come out and reject him,” he said.
Alia Is APC Leader in Benue, Spokesman Insists
On the reported disagreement between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Kula insisted that the governor remained the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
He said the governor would remain accountable to the people rather than submit to the interests of any individual.
Addressing issues surrounding party primaries and the reported presidential position that elected representatives should receive automatic tickets, Kula argued that Benue’s political circumstances required consideration of the state’s rotational arrangement and the performance of individual officeholders.
He described Alia as a beneficiary of the rotational principle, which he said remained an important factor in the state’s political calculations.
Spokesman Highlights Alia Administration’s Achievements
Kula also defended the administration’s performance, saying Governor Alia inherited a difficult situation from his predecessor.
He pointed to ongoing urban renewal projects in Makurdi, describing them as a major effort to improve the state capital after years of inadequate development.
He added that rural road construction was ongoing and that local government chairmen had been directed to construct asphalted roads within their respective areas.
According to him, the state government and local government councils are implementing a joint road construction arrangement under which the state contributes 60 per cent of the funding while the councils provide the remaining 40 per cent.
Kula further listed the renovation of four primary healthcare centres in each of the state’s 23 local government areas, the development of a N250 million food centre project in Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area, and the employment of more than 9,000 teachers among the administration’s achievements.
He said the initiatives were intended to improve infrastructure, strengthen healthcare delivery, expand access to education and restore public confidence in governance.
Benue Generates N2bn Monthly IGR, Kula Says
On the state’s wage bill and outstanding obligations to workers, Kula said the wage bill fluctuates, while the state generates about N2 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR).
He added that the government was putting measures in place to clear outstanding salary and pension arrears owed to state and local government workers.
The spokesman maintained that the administration remained committed to addressing the challenges facing Benue residents, expressing confidence that its performance would shape the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.
However, the political contest ahead of the 2027 elections is expected to involve competing interests within the APC and other political groups seeking to influence the state’s leadership.
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