In this exclusive interview with selected Publishers, the Executive Chairman of Ado Local Government area of Benue State, Engineer Oche Sunday Oche speaks on the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The administration’s unprecedented supports to local government administration, its achievements and dogged fight against insecurity, APC leadership of Professor Nentawe Yilwadta and Chief Omale, massive mobilization of supports for both President Tinubu and Governor Alia by Livitsar Support Group and Ternenge Support Group. He also spoke about the achievements of his administration and the security challenges he is facing as the Council chairman. Excerpts:
Can we know the efforts of the State Government to curb killings in Ado and so you think the killings are politically motivated?
Insecurity is a thing of concern in Nigeria. It is more of a priority for a very responsible government like the government of His Excellency l, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Alia. Through the various interventions by His Excellency in providing a very robust security architecture for Ado LGA and in Benue state as a whole, we have been able to curtail the security issues in Ado. The governor has generously established a well structured security outfit called Operation Nyan Nyor base in Ado LG and this is a specialized security outfits designed to fight kidnappers, curb the menace of irresponsible grazing of cows in our farms, counter any spontaneous upsurge of civil unrest. This security unit is well founded by the governor. He also has the civil protection guard that offers supportive services to police and other security agents. They are upgrade of regular vigilante group. The civil protection guards consist of well trained personnel in the aspect facing local security challenges that are peculiar to their environments. All these in addition to the conventional security units like the police, soldiers and NSDC are provided and well funded in Ado LGA by the governor.
How will you rate Governor Alia’s administration in all areas of governance?
Honestly the governor’s performance has surpassed expectation. He has within this short limit of time touched critical areas of social and economic sectors. In fact, Governor Hyacinth Alia is God sent and it shouldn’t surprise anyone by the time he wins his reelection easily in 2027. This is a governor who has spent well over N100billion on road construction and other infrastructural projects in Benue South alone. This is a governor who places the betterment of local government administration on top of his heart. He places the welfare of workers and civil servants as his top priority. So anyone that is saying negative things about him is just being economical with truths. Governor Hyacinth Alia has performed excellently well in all areas of governance.
There are reports that the governor doesn’t obey local government autonomy and that he only gives N10m to each LG chairman monthly and pockets the rest?
Pocket the money to where . This is a governor that is so passionate about local government development. In my local government he has sunk the sum of N18 billion on roadwork alone. Security has received a great boost. In fact he has given a blank cheque to any chairman who has security challenges. Never in the history of Benue state have we had a governor that gives top priority to security like his excellency, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia. So the allegation that he doesn’t obey the Presidential order on Local Government Autonomy is unfounded.
How will you assess Livitsar Support Group as it has commenced its mobilization for the reelection bid of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia?
Livitsar support group is a well known political movement. It is geared towards the reelection of his Excellency Rv. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the president. From the volume of activities of the group, a lot of personal resources have been expended on by the convener, Dr. Livinus Tsar. It will interest you that Livitsar Support Group for Alia/Tinubu 2027 has erected over thirty five solar motorized boreholes with reticulation across the twenty three local governments in the state. The group has also embarked on food donations, financial empowerment and donations of relief materials in the twenty local government areas of Benue State as part of its supports for the reelection bid of both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia in 2027. These philanthropic gestures explain why the convener, Chief Livinus Tsar was recently awarded a Doctorate Degree by the American University of Peace and Governance in conjunction with the UNIPGC. As part of its efforts to support the administration of the Governor and President Bola Tinubu-led administration, LIVITSAR Support Group for Alia/Tinubu 2027 recently commenced the training of about 9,000 youths, women and farmers in Benue state. The skill acquisition trainings which was commenced in Konshisha local government area of Benue State were set up to train thirty two participants in each of the two hundred and seventy six Council Wards across the state. Apart from Livitsar, another close ally of Governor Hyacinth Alia, Chief Moses Ternenge has done wonderfully well in using his own support group called Ternenge Support Movement to promote the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Will you say that the leadership of Chief Omale has brought unity to the party in Benue state?
Certainly yes. He has brought unity and increased the confidence in party faithful have in the party. Under Chief Omale, the most credible local government election was conducted. The chairman ensured that the party came out victorious all through the court litigations that arose after the election. The chairman has used his good office to mobilize supports for the state government and President Bola Tinubu. Look at the ongoing E-Registration of members, Chief Omale as a unifier made sure that there is no discrimination..
What are your achievements since you assumed duties as Ado Local Government chairman?
0n assumption as the executive chairman, the local government was almost like a forest. Bushes grew up to the door step of the administrative blocks . The first thing I did was to clear and established a clean sanitary environment. Then we equipped the offices with modern office furnitures. We overhauled the revenue collection and revenue is now collected in real time. Graciously we have a governor that has passion to develop the rural communities. His Excellency, the governor of Benue state went into partnership with us at the local and we started the construction of Igumale – Agila road network. It’s 80% completion. We have also secure the approval to embark on a 5km road network across the local government. These projects have received enormous support from his Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. The governor also gave us the operation base for a very robust security outfit, operation Nyan Nyor. This has helped in stopping the frequent attack of headsmen and therefore giving farmers access to the farmland without fear of attack. The kidnapping rate has greatly been reduced. The few attempts that were made by some unscrupulous elements were countered and victims rescued. Inter tribal war between the Ezza and Effiom was brought to an end. The Agila and Ngbo community war was also brought to an end. Regular payment to security agent are made. We have also remodeled the local government guest house and awe have also done some major renovation of the local government secretariat.
Do you think the governor deserves a second term in office going by his achievements since he assumed duties in 2023?
I said repeatedly that the governor’s re-election in 2027 is non negotiable. The people can’t afford to lose Governor Alia and his team. Can you change a winning team. No! His performance is overwhelming. Come to Makurdi and see the level of standard road network with drainage that is being done.. The standard is top-notch. Makurdi, the state capital has now witnesses massive electrifications. The beauty of a city is seen more in the night. Hospital are well equipped. Modern primary school are also built. Salaries are paid promptly well before the end of the month. Workers morale is at highest apt. Pension and gratuity are paid timely. Local governments are receiving a boost in the provision of modern social facilities. We are more secured now in Benue state than ever before.
You were once accused of operating an illegal detention cell in Obioye. How will you react to the allegation?
Is it laughable to say the chief executive officer of local government is operating a detention cell. Call it illegal or legal. As the chairman of the local government I’m the chief security officer of the local government. I’m the governor’s eye in securing the LGA. I’m related well with the police, DSS, soldiers, NSDC, NDLEA and all other security agencies. Of what interest is operating detention camp when I have the police cell to detain any person who is engaged in an unlawful act. My accusers are political distractors who are intimidated by the performance of His Excellency the governor of Benue state. They see my achievements Excellency as a big threat. No criminal element will have a breathing space in Ado LGA. As a matter of fact, the IGP set up a special team to investigate the allegations and they police has since issued an official report to clear me from complicity. I have been cleared by the police because they found out that the allegation was false, and the report is there for anyone to see.