Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia has pledged to strengthen education and accelerate people-oriented development across Benue, with plans to recruit more teachers and consolidate the gains recorded by his administration in the last three years. Alia made the pledge while engaging stakeholders during the ongoing Thank-You Tour of the state, assuring Benue people that his administration would sustain investments in human capital development and infrastructure.
The governor disclosed that after recruiting 9,700 primary school teachers, his administration was already planning to employ more teachers for both primary and secondary schools to address manpower needs and improve the quality of education. He said the government would continue to prioritise projects that directly affect the lives of the people, stressing that the achievements recorded so far represented part of his administration’s broader development agenda for the state.
Alia also called for unity among the people, urging them to place the collective interest of Benue above political differences and work together for peace, stability and development. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to Benue and urged the people to sustain cooperation with the Federal Government to enable both administrations to continue delivering development to the state.
The governor began the day’s engagements in Buruku Federal Constituency with meetings with traditional rulers and religious leaders before proceeding to the political stakeholders’ session. The Executive Chairman of Buruku Local Government Council, Hon. Raymond Zege, received the governor and his entourage and assured him of the people’s continued support, pledging that Buruku would back his re-election in 2027.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Alex Adingi, speaking for Mbayam, commended the administration’s interventions and appealed for more development projects. The Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon. Aii Yenge, who spoke for the people of Tombo, also appreciated the governor’s achievements and pledged the support of the people for Alia, President Tinubu and other APC candidates in 2027.
At Gboko, the governor again met with traditional rulers and religious leaders before engaging political leaders and other stakeholders. The Chairman of Tarka Local Government Council, Hon. Raphael Yenge, welcomed Alia on behalf of the people and expressed appreciation for the projects executed across Gboko and Tarka, assuring him of massive support. Elder Atsenda Ishwa, speaking for Gboko, and Elder Iortyer, representing Tarka, commended the governor’s achievements and legacy projects and appealed for additional interventions.
The APC State Women Leader, Hon. Mrs Helen Agaigbe, alongside the women and youth leaders from Gboko and Tarka, assured the governor of the continued support of women and youths and their mobilisation for his re-election. APC State Chairman, Hon. Chief Dr Benjamin Omale, thanked the people for their sustained support for the party and the Alia administration, urging them to intensify mobilisation for the success of the APC in 2027.
Former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, urged the people of Jemgbagh to shun unnecessary political distractions and stand firmly behind Governor Alia, whom he described as their son, stressing the need to work for his success and re-election. The engagements, attended by political office holders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youth leaders and other stakeholders, reinforced the administration’s grassroots connection as the Thank-You Tour continues across the state.
The Alia the better