The Technical Adviser to Benue State Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, spoke with our correspondent, Attah Ede in Makurdi. In this interview, Iorpev, who is also the Director General, Benue State Signage Agency, spoke about the governor Alia’s developmental strides, his 2027 re-election bid and the activities of his new agency.

How has been your experience working with the Governor as his technical adviser?

It is actually a privilege to start from where I am.

In politics there is always a starting point. As you know my background, I have been in the media space for over two decades now. Working as a producer, studio manager, Editor as newscaster.

When I left there to contest in 2022 for the House of Assembly to represent the good people of Konshisha, there was a gap. I saw that out of the 2 Constituency they had, one was missing. So, I was looking for an opportunity to restore it. I put everything aside to contest the seat but unfortunately, I did not win that election. In the course of that, I went back to Abuja where I continued with the act of anchoring events, media consultancy and all of that.

I was invited by the Governor to serve in his government in a very high position. That big entry in political space, in public life as a public servant starting in an advisory capacity is not a mere feat. There are some who started as Principal Special Assistant, PSA, Senior Special Assistant, SSA or Special Adviser, SA but I had the privilege through the mercy of God and kindness of the Governor to start at that level as Technical Adviser, Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication.

It is quite a big role and huge responsibility because from the beginning of my service, I have played three roles as a Chief Executive of a state. It is an amazing opportunity where you only advise him on everything around media, but on Publicity as well as talk to him on issues of strategic Communication. It’s been quite an amazing experience for me not being within the space before.

So, coming in as a new entrant, I had a lot to learn and of course, am still learning. I watched the political playground which was operating and saw a lot of turbulence and the still water within the space. It is quite an experience. Am excited that this opportunity is presented to me because in life we grow and whenever you see an opportunity to grow, you take it with both hands.

As if that was not enough, just a few months into the office, His Excellency added another responsibility because I actually hold a Master’s in Public Relations and Advertising so, when he noticed that in my CV, he said put all that together and see how you roll it into one. So, it has been a great experience and I am still experiencing it.

If you work with His Excellency Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and you don’t grow in leaps and bounds, then what brought you is different, that means you are here for amusement or just to take a walk. So, working with him in this space has taught me a lot of lessons. Am still learning and first of all, you have to be patient, determined, deliberate and focused.

These four things you must learn them primarily as lessons working around the Governor and you have to think outside the box for every responsibility and assignment given to you because things are not as straight as they seemed.  You have to dig around the corner to find your way around to be able to bring out the product that is acceptable.

What is that thing in you that has attracted the governor to offer you dual responsibilities in his government?

Is loyalty, capacity and capability. Governor Alia believes in very high standards and quality. For him to be referring to me is something. Remember, at one point, I acted as Chief Press Secretary to him for a month and 2 weeks. So, he gives you these responsibilities here and there to test your capability, resilience and ability to handle things. It is an exciting experience, I have come to meet people and learn how to work with them in this political space. And above all, I have learnt that loyalty can only be 100 percent which is an important thing in the political space.

Would you say he has fostered a good working environment for you and his other team to perform well?

Why not, the ID card given to you is enough for you to excel. The pronouncement of an office is enough for you to excel. Someone said success in life is when opportunity meets preparedness. So, when you are given an opportunity to serve, it is an opportunity for you to excel. What else do you need if not an office to operate.

His Excellency has given you a job and an office space to operate and has told you to do this and that. Difficulties come when your space is not defined, but when it is defined on what to do, opportunities and offices may not be the same but you have to use your head and navigate the waters. Working with him is an opportunity to learn.

He is someone who does not believe that something must come to you on a platter of gold, you must find ways of carrying out your responsibility. It is part of a test of your capability and ability. For instance, as his adviser on media, I carry some of his protocols. Am his anchor man, his companion in terms of publicity because I handled all of that.

Furthermore, strategic communication is part of what I do for him. I don’t just advise him on what should be done, I also do that for him when events hold. I do not have to wait for him to tell me what to do. I know what to do when a certain occasion arises. As Technical Adviser on Media and Publicity, I am also responsible for making sure that his publicity materials go out to everyone.

His works are there for people to see and his books are there for people to read. Within this space, I have produced two books for him. I did the stradi of an unusual leader, the stroke of a silent achiever and am working on the rumbles of an accidental politician.

These are things I do for him. I have ample space to operate. So, the environment I need is the office and once it is given to you, you define it. What is the capacity of the office and what can you do? You can do far beyond the capacity of the office. I know His Excellency is intentional, focused and driven. Driven by the fact that this state has been backward for many years.

Be driven by the fact that he has to lift the people up from poverty and missed opportunities and give them a level playing ground amongst the states that surround them. Other states were created out of Benue and look at where we are. Deficit infrastructural development, economic deficit, education deficit and even in civil service in practical every aspect.

So, that kind of person around you moves you even without you moving yourself. He calls you at 2am and you are sleeping and he tells you that people are busy fixing the world and you are busy sleeping, you shouldn’t be doing that. The point is that people are trying to work to bring solutions to problems and you are busy sleeping, getting up and doing what you should do. The point is that, when you see someone working like that, you can’t relax. I come to work at 8am and close 11:30 pm every day.

You see the results around me. He teaches you to create your own niche within your own space and be your own person and get your own shine. You don’t have the regular 9am-5pm like any other person. So, the space for me as a leader he is and with his style of leadership is good and great enough.

But there is this allegation that his team (appointees) are feeling disappointed because they do not have access to him and other things that could aid their jobs. How true is it? 

Disappointments are when the expectations are too far from reality. And I must say this, that from the beginning, the Governor because of the drive to raise the next generation of leaders has brought people most of them are not experienced within the government space. He is raising a crop of leaders for the next generation which is the right thing to do.

There are things they should know and we have done training and retraining on how to be effective in your office. Inaccessibility is not the right word. He says you are not pushing harder. You are expected at your level to push harder. You should fight to get things done. Laziness does not produce anything. You don’t sit in your office, cross your legs and expect things to be done.

Are you saying that other appointees are lazy and that is why they could not get access to the governor?

No, not at all. Noone working with Father Alia is lazy. But what you should know is that, there is a little piece of cake on the table and everyone is scrambling for it, why are you sitting and crossing your leg expecting your share would be brought to you.

There are limited resources and many ministries, Departments and Agencies. MDAs and you are sitting in the comfort of your house expecting the Governor to call you to come and take a piece of cake. You should go out there and do what you are supposed to do.

The Governor is available for his staff via telephone, he picks the calls of his appointees when he should pick them. Text messages, he reads anything that is printed. If you send him a text, he reads and responds to it. His office hours. People talk about inaccessibility because they want to access at the wrong time. He will tell you that you are bringing the right information at the wrong time.

There is a joke he will say, you are ambushing me, you know where to find me. You don’t want to meet the Governor in his rest place, the man is human. As Governor do you know the burden he carries. If the Governor’s phone does not work, it dials every 30 minutes because it buzzes 24/7 as everyone wants his attention.

And the unfortunate thing that happen in the State I do not know if it applies in other states, somebody’s wife is pregnant they want the Governor to give them money to go to the hospital, someone’s son get admission to the university or someone sustains injury from Okada accident, he wants the Governor to give him money as ridiculous as it sounds am not joking.

Even at my desk, I see the letters. This is a man that is placed at the international level and national. As he is attending to state matters, he is doing the same to national issues. The Presidency needs his attention and he is also traveling to get things for the state.

For example, the overhead bridge (flyover) at Wurukum roundabout, was removed from the road construction because some people felt that it was not important.  It took the Governor over six months going to Abuja to the Ministry of Works and Presidency until it was put back. These are the things you fight for your state.

Look at ACRESAL, after paying 1 billion naira, you have to go and fight for it because other states are doing the same thing. If you do not do so, other states are ready to take it. There is something for the vulnerable he discovered and had to go for it.

So, he keeps going to Abuja to get things for his people. And the President wants him to travel with him to an international conference. Inaccessibility comes that is not true representation.

But asking the Governor for assistance is part of governance. Or is there anything wrong in telling him to help you?

There is nothing wrong with that. But there are ridiculous levels you take it. Must it be the one as Governor to pay your school fees or your children’s school fees.

You have senators, House of Representatives members, House of Assembly members and local government chairmen. What are they doing for you? So everything has to be the Governor, why?

Benue people are accusing your governor of not practicing inclusivity in governance bearing in mind that, there are three senatorial districts in the State. Why has he chosen to neglect the zone C axis in terms of appointments and infrastructural development?

There are no rules or regulations that says someone from Benue South Senatorial District or Zone C must head any parastatal or agencies for the government not to be biased.  It does not speak to the bias of the Governor. Let’s begin with road infrastructure. Do you know that the Governor is constructing more roads in zone C than in any other parts of the State.

Let’s talk about the Awajir-Oju road, it is about 53 km. The Utonkon road is about 48,49km. It is a long stretch. Let’s talk about the Naka-Agagbe-Agatu road, it is the longest in the State. The longest road in Zone A is Anhura in Vandeikya local government area which is about 34 kms.

The road the Governor is on is stone based. The roads he is doing in zone B is of necessity because this is the capital of the state. When you come into the State, it is more like an image of the state. The underpass in Otukpo has been awarded at the Enugu round about.

The Governor is passionate about the health sector. You know Akpagede in Otukpo, the primary health care center is completed. You have Upu also in Otukpo the primary health center has been completed. There is one in Ipole Ohaje in Ogbadibo, Ondo in Agatu, Onuba also in Agatu. When some people talk about doing less projects in Zone C, I just laugh at them.

There is one in Ogbahulu in Agatu, Iga-Okpaya in Apa, Otukpa in Ogbadibo, Olachagbaha in Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA, Odugbo in Apa, Igwu-Ako road in Ogbadibo, Eke-Akpa road in Okpokwu LGA. These projects have not been done in zones A and B. We have Ameojo road in Okpokwu, Ikumeja in Okpokwu, Adum east in Obi LGA etc. There are over 185 projects in Zone C.

The Governor has also used Acresal for a water project which is a major challenge in the area. It has been established that before now, one out of 3 homes has water collection containers. They built this big water container for them to store water.

Before now they were using an under tank which was not healthy. You have the Otobi water works in Otukpo which was abandoned for more than 18 years. The Governor has injected billions of naira and revived it. The water is being reticulated and there is water in Otukpo and its environs now. Projects are done according to needs and there are scarce resources.

So you cannot pack everything in one place. The Governor has even pushed himself beyond his limits in project execution. No one has done this in less than 3 years. Sometimes Benue people think that the Governor has been in office for 8 years. The man has a heart to do well.

From your candid assessment without bias, would you say the state has witnessed the needed development in almost three years of Alia’s administration?

I won’t say the state has witnessed development but total transformation. I said this with every sense of responsibility.  This is because if the Governor had met on the ground a level playing field or pedestal, we wouldn’t be talking about underdevelopment in the state.

We would be far beyond where we are. The Governor met so much deficit on the ground. He met a civil servant that did not have office to operate from. He met a House of Assembly that is operating from the bush because they were sharing that place with reptiles.

He met civil servants who were owed hundreds and millions, civil servants that were called dead people and he had to bring them back to life. He met a Teaching Hospital where people who went there for treatments said their last prayer.

I have it on record that every medication that was there had expired. He met a Benue State University that half of the lecturers were owed for many years and medical students were deprived of their allowances. He saw impassable roads in Makurdi, particularly the Keke Napep Street.

What are some of the striking achievements that the Governor would present to the people as he seeks re-election in 2027?

I can say categorically that he does not need to present anything to Benue people to get re-elected. The people can see everything. The Governor has strengthened the State economy through industrialization. The Benue Brewery was sold including human capital.

The Governor was revived to avoid capital flight. He set up the Zeva Beer industry and less than 2 years you are having it to drink. You talk about the Fruit Juice industry, the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation which has been named after Dan Agbese and can assure that the place is bringing billions into the state.

Through the Benue Investment Company, we have a bread, water and nails factory. In the transport sector, Benue Links was revived and fares subsidized. Benue Links can now go to every part of the state. Before now, this didn’t happen. He has done projects that affect the lives of the people.

As I speak with you a team from US and Uk went round and equipment for 18 tertiary health institutions in the State are on their way. How else does a man work for his people? He has done 534 km of roads.

He is transforming Makurdi into an urban city where there are bus stops and he is importing electric vehicles to reduce cost of transportation within the town. We already have electric vehicles by BIPC moving around the town. Do we talk about the appointments he has given to people in Abuja.

Appointments in police and military slots belonging to Benue were almost taken away as was done in the past. These are the things the Governor is doing because he is intentional about Benue. He does not present anything. He does not need a campaign script. The man has already finished his campaign.

The Governor seems to be facing stiff opposition from the Jechira axis where he comes from, as many aspirants are contesting the position against him.  How are you mobilizing support for his re-election?

There is no governor that people will not come to contest against him from the same axis even during Ortom’s time, Rev Frederick Ikyaan, Hwande and Jime contested against him. They had to do a rerun between him and Jime.

People who are opportunist and have the attitude of it must be me would always do that. In the Jechira axis, there has been one statement by the royal fathers and politicians, that the Benue Governorship seat is not vacant. What are you coming to do that the man is not already doing? That’s the question we are asking. What are the gaps that you want to fill that the man is not already filling? Are you going to do anything different other than to construct roads for us? Are you going to do anything other than give us fertilizer at subsidized rate? Are we going to do anything different other than to provide transportation for us to all parts of the state at half the price? Are you going to do anything different in reviving primary, secondary and tertiary health care centers across the State? Are you going to do anything different in reviving the dead industries back to life? What questions would you ask that the Governor is not already answering.

Amongst all the people aspiring, I haven’t seen anyone who has the interest of the State other than to put money on the table and share it with stakeholders. But the Governor has identified the stakeholders as citizens of the State. The day to day users of the roads who couldn’t find roads to cross. What are they coming to do other than see storey buildings in schools that we have not seen before? Are they going to do anything other than employ 9,000 teachers?

But in politics you do not wave anyone aside, but do what you can to mitigate them before they stop you. Am in touch with my people every time. Am there for them filling the gap which the Governor expects me to do for him because he can’t be everywhere. I set up a scholarship scheme where I am paying school fees of over 100 students in Mbanvar in Konshisha LGA.

It is a 20 year project which began under the Alia administration. I built a water factory for them. As I am mobilizing them and making sure that everyone gets registered so that if it is an open primary, we have enough members to file behind my Governor.

And we are making sure everyone gets a voter card. We are doing everything to stand behind him because the Governor is a good man and he has a good heart. He is deliberate about Benue and every step he takes is about getting achievements for the State.

He has been a priest for 34 years working with the rural people to understand their suffering. That is why he has cleared all counterpart funding which are bringing results.

What is your take on the sharp division in the APC?

There is no sharp division in our party. There are people who have refused to agree to what the National Working Committee of the party is saying. There is one APC. What we have is a group of rebels who do not want to follow the process of developing Benue State.

People who want to deprive the people of development. I say this without fear or favor. Am I being frank? We have one APC that held congresses in the state. Were there parallel congresses? Some people held meetings. We held congresses that were supervised by the NWC and INEC at IBB Square.

What we have are rebels who feel that government should be done by them and not by the people. The Governor is carrying out government for the people and by the people.

Benue has remained a hotbed of insecurity, what is the Governor doing to tackle this challenge in the State?

Just a few days ago some passengers and students who were going to write JAMB were kidnapped and they were rescued on Sunday. The Governor held a press conference that showed the level of response. These are physical ones you can see.

There are some that are averted that you do not hear about them. This is not the first time, it happened in Utonkon where some parishioners were rescued. I can tell you that when we say Benue is enjoying relative peace we are far from where we were.

We are not where we should be but far from where we were. The Tor Sankera said in August that out of 18 council wards that were displaced, 13 have gone back. He talked about the effort of the Governor in sending helicopters and security operatives into the area.

In Kwande, what used to happen there was more aggressive than now. Am not trying to justify insecurity but it is not a magic wand that you just wave away. Security challenge is a global issue. We still have skirmishes here and there.

In Nigeria, it is a challenge that the Federal Government is fighting. It is unfortunate that when it happens in Benue, people turn to face the Governor. When it happens in Plateau they call on the Federal Government to help. That sounds political to me and I do not know why.

In Gwer West local government area, 13 council wards who were displaced for more than 20 years, have returned to their respective homes. I saw them and we have videos. There are some locals that are beginning to benefit from insecurity and collaborating with outsiders.

Someone has a land dispute with his brother and goes to invite strangers to help him fight the battle. People do not get to investigate what is happening anymore. The Governor has tried at every given point. I keep asking that, what the senators and House of Representatives members are doing. They should play their role.

The national assembly members do not collect security votes like the governor. What do you expect them to do?

Is it about security votes? Must they have security votes? If you do not have security votes, then there is nothing you can do again? So why were they elected? They can’t lend their voices to attract things to their constituency? The national assembly from this State is doing nothing to assist the governor curbing insecurity in the State.

Now, as Director General of Benue State Signage Agency, what are the measures you have put in place to ensure that political parties and politicians do paste their posters indiscriminately to deface the State capital, Makurdi?

I have put up notice on the social and conventional media for a stakeholders engagement including shop owners, business organizations, billboard owners who do commercials, schools, churches and national companies to enlighten them on the new law.

They should know that there are certain of them to be discreet and they must get permission from the agency before putting up anything at all. The era of pasting posters or billboards anywhere has gone. It is no longer business as usual. We are going to set up a task force across the state and every space.

The agency has a mandate to set up a mobile court to bring you to judgement and fine you. We will educate them to know that billboards are not to be placed haphazardly. We must allocate areas to advertise, and for people to place their billboards.

I have gone to Otukpo, Gboko and other places to look at areas where materials as small as flyers should be placed. You can’t place your pictures anyhow.  And anywhere we see such, we will hold the person whose picture is on the poster or flyer.

At the stakeholders engagement our portal would be launched and we will register every advertiser, and as well, instruct them that every payment must be automated. Anyone making payment by cash is defrauding the state and depriving it of resources to carry out development and this is what the Governor has been preaching that certain people are accusing him of not sharing resources of the state. If he had allowed them closer to himself, they would milk the whole State’s resources.