From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
No fewer than four thousand four hundred and fifty nine supporters of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other political parties on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State.
The events took place in Sankera as well as in Kwande and Ushongo Local Government Areas during the commencement of Governor Hyacinth Alia state-wide thank you tour to appreciate the people for their unwavering support that saw him emerge victorious in the 20223 elections.
Speaking at the events, the Governor thanked the people of Sankera for their overwhelming support to him that saw him emerge victorious at the last polls.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to return all the Internally Displaced Persons IDPs to their ancestral homes to continue normal farming activities.
He expressed concern that Sankera which is the hub for yam production in the country, was greatly hit by the attacks by the 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.
Governor Alia who debunked 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 Ahmed 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.
Hon. Wombo said Sankera people have unanimously endorsed the governor to contest again because of the track record of achievements within one year in office.
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, Mr. 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”.
