From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Immediate family and bloodline relations of Benue Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, under the auspices of Mbangur Community Elites Coalition (MECOA) on Friday, warned those in the habit of speaking despicable things and making unguarded utterances about their son.

The forum further stated that they would continue to resist any unguarded utterances against him from those who don’t mean well for the state.

They stated this during a press conference held at Club Suites in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Presenting text of the conference, Spokesperson for the Forum, Comrade Akpenpuun Terhide James, lamented that some people whom he did not mention their names were  targeting the governor to rubbish him, despite recording massive development across the state just within the space of nearly two years since he assumed office.

James explained  that MECOA is a political pressure group comprising of blood-line relatives of the governor, who are determined to promote goodwill for him across the state in the build-up towards his re-election in 2027.

He said their aim is to build-up an unalloyed support base across the state to promote, defend and protect the governor’s programmes, policies and record-breaking achievements, for successful governance and against unguarded utterances and acts to undermine his personality and office from unreasonable and scrupulous elements.

Comrade James filed alongside with delegation of leaders and stakeholders of Mbangur origin, said that with one unanimous voice they have resolved to create an enabling environment of unity, peace and security for effective service delivery for the governor within his immediate community of Mbangur, Mbadede Ward in Vandeikya Local Government and Benue State at large.

“That henceforth, we shall no longer condone or be silent over public unguarded utterances against Governor Alia and acts capable of undermining his personality and office from any individuals or group of persons.

“That henceforth, the entire Mbangur Community shall distance herself from any persons or groups that choose to go against Governor Alia and the good works he is doing to move Benue forward.

“To build-up an unalloyed support base across the state to promote, defend and protect the governor’s programmes, policies and record-breaking achievements, for successful governance and against unguarded utterances and acts to undermine his personality and office from unreasonable and scrupulous elements,” he said.

“We aim at working assiduously to bridging the gaps of misunderstandings, unguarded utterances, falsehood and sometimes acts to undermine the personality and office of the governor from some quarters and hope to create harmony and unity of purpose that would further benefit and develop the state. 

“We shall continue to stand with him (Alia), by him and for him until he successfully completes his eight years as governor of Benue State and beyond.

“Therefore, we are appealing and calling on those who may have been aggrieved for one reason or the other, especially from Mbadede, Kunavland, Jechira Benue state at large to come back and support His Excellency Governor Alia to put Benue state on a new map of development,” they posted.

“We have seen the good works done so far by our brother the governor of the state, in just over  one year and seven months in office which includes massive roads constructions, establishment of factories through the BIPC for the production of bread, water, fertilizer and ZEVA lager beer, constructions and renovations of the state secretariat, installations of street lights within the state capital Makurdi, massive employment at Benue State Teaching Hospital.

“We are seeing the ongoing massive teachers employment exercise at SUBEB, regular and prompt payment of civil servants salaries, pensions and gratuities, procuring of new buses at Benue Links and revamp of the old  abandoned buses to ease intra and inter state transportation for the masses, giving maximum attention to security challenges with the recent launching of the Benue State Civil Protection Security, adequate supply, availability and affordable fertilizer and agro-chemicals for farmers, general welfare of the masses amongst several other achievements

“In view of all these, we on behalf of the entire Mbangur community today Friday 24th January, 2025 reaffirm our vote of confidence in His Excellency Rev.Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia the Executive Governor of Benue State and further states as follows”, they alluded.

They however, concluded by thanking Gov Alia for the move to establish a new University of Agriculture Science and Technology, while urging the Benue State House of Assembly to expeditiously pass the Bill into Law