Amidst celebration of his two years performances in office, there are indications of jitters as Fr. Hyacinth Alia clocks two years in office as Executive Governor of Benue State, on 29th May, 2025.
On 29th May, 2023, he took oath, both of office and allegiance, making history as the second Catholic priest to be elected and sworn-in as Governor of the Nigeria’s Food Basket State.
Like his brother priest, Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu, the second civilian Governor of Benue State, Fr. Alia’s election marked the dawn of “New hope” and the governor has not disappointed, veteran journalist, Mr. Elijah Fave Iorbee told TNT.
However, the Convener Benue Open Governance Society (BOGS), Mr. Sam Agwa, has said that there is the need for the Governor to rejig his cabinet.
“There is a significant level of quietness in the camp. It looks like just some few are doing a lot. Whether the few are being encouraged by the governor to do much or it’s on account of their initiative that remains quite debatable.
“But certainly, Governor Alia needs to rejig (his cabinet) but rejiging should not be just because it’s a ritual when you’re doing an anniversary; it should be a rejig to correct whatever political issues that exist that needs to be tidied, a rejig that corrects whatever community sensibilities that also correct ultimately what will bring good to the society,” Mr. Agwa explained.
According to the BOGS Convener, in rejiging his cabinet, the Governor should ensure there is an “equal or an approximate good mix of private people who have experience in government and people who are politicians so that we will be able to strike the right impetus to pursue development.”
Those who should know have said that but for the intervention from quarters with vested interest, some of the cabinet members would have been shown the exit door. Most of those who have come under the governor’s radar are from Benue North East (Zone A), the governor’s zone. TNT could not independently confirm this claim.
Another good governance and social justice crusader, Mr. Francis Nyitor, thinks “there are certain people who have overstayed their welcome” in the Fr. Alia administration.
“I wish the Holy Spirit directs the Governor to inject new blood” into his cabinet, Mr. Nyior went.
Mr. Iorbee, who told TNT that Fr. Alia “has not disappointed” has said that the governor’s style and approach to governance has put him “on collision course with the so-called stakeholders” as he stands “proudly with the youth in the New order he is entrenching.”
Mr. Iorbee explained that the old order of always deferring to a godfather has been dismantled to the “new order” of the “people first,” settint up the “masses and stakeholders dichotomy” within the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
It portends danger for those who may be nursing the desire to seeking re-election, particularly, now that this dispensation is two years old. And with the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term and the call by the national chairman of APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje that all the first term governors get automatic return tickets, Mr. Iorbee is of the view that “stakeholders” have every reason to be jittery because they are at the mercy of the governor.
Once in Gwer East, during a thanksgiving service, the governor indicated that those who arw not reliable and have eyes on public funds cannot work with him. That statement generated controversy, with pundits saying it sent a clear warning signal to his appointees that there are no sacred cows.
In the interim, and especially as the governor marks his mid-term anniversary, there are apparently fears as to what the future holds for both his appointees and those who may be seeking re-elecrion.
