By Peter Orokpo
MAKURDI – On Monday 5th June, 2023, the new Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia clocked just seven days in office and in his first seven days, the Governor made seven wrong moves which have exposed him as someone who is not prepared to govern well.
1. Gov. Alia shortly after he took the oath of office was on a site for the foundation laying of what is now confirmed to be his personal estate called Villa De Lia Estate. A man who is ready to lead well should have first gone for a project that is for the people.
2. Gov. Alia ordered the sacking of all heads of government agencies including those on statutory tenures and had to later retrieve some of the letters like that of the Chairman of BIRS saying “it was issued in error”.
3. Gov. Alia did not meet with heads of security agencies to receive briefings and has not made any statement regarding security despite his campaign promise to quickly return IDPs to their communities.
4. He snubbed the entire Zone B in his first four appointments and concentrated 99% of the appointments in his zone giving Zone C only one slot.
5. Alia allowed the launch of an illegal security organization in the state called Al-Tershak Global Security Ltd established by one Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku, a notorious former Boko Haram kingpin.
6. Alia began a needless war with his benefactor Senator George Akume by denying the SGF his desire to install the Speaker of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly, Becky Orpin. Gov. Alia inaugurated the Assembly but refused to leave, insisting that his candidate must become the Speaker. That scenario has soured his relationship with Akume. The APC leader in the state might have held Alia and smiled with him yesterday in Abuja but his inner mind was feeling deep pain over that humiliation of last Monday at the Benue Assembly.
7. Then came the mother of all wrong moves by the new Governor. Sacking thousands of newly recruited workers in the state was the worst mistake he will live to regret as Governor. Ortom did it in 2015 but had to reverse it later. And Ortom’s case was a bit better because he only sacked local government workers, but Alia has sacked across the board and even reversed promotions. The economy of Benue State is driven by the civil service. 90% of the young men and women whom Alia has sacked said “yes father” and voted overwhelmingly for him during the 2023 election. He has “rewarded” them handsomely.
Seven bad moves in seven days! Governor Alia!