Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial District, has strongly criticized Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he described as the continued marginalization of the Benue South zone, insisting that the Idoma people should not be treated as second-class citizens in their own state.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John, following the recent visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Benue State, Moro expressed deep concern over the exclusion of Benue South from the First Lady’s empowerment programme. Under the initiative, N50 million was distributed to 1,000 women in Vandeikya Local Government Area and another N50 million to 1,000 women in Makurdi and neighbouring communities, with no allocation made to any community in Benue South, including women from conflict-affected areas in Apa and Agatu.
The senator lamented the absence of any state government projects commissioned in Benue South during the First Lady’s visit, unlike other parts of the state. He questioned the continued neglect of the zone, asking, “What exactly is the sin of Zone C against Governor Alia?”
Moro emphasized that the people of Benue South voted overwhelmingly for Governor Alia in 2023 and, as equal stakeholders in the Benue Project, deserve fair and equitable treatment. He warned that they cannot continue to be treated as second-class citizens.
The lawmaker urged the governor to ensure that intervention programmes and relief packages from external sources, including those from the First Lady, reach the people of the zone. He stressed that if the state government cannot provide basic infrastructure despite receiving substantial allocations, it should not block palliatives meant for the suffering population.
Senator Moro called on Governor Alia to stop sidelining Benue South and to guarantee that the district receives its fair share of development projects and opportunities. The statement has sparked discussions about equity, inclusion, and political representation in Benue State.
