The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue state have accused the state governor, Hyacinth Alia of the APC, of running the state like a Catholic Church parish.
The PDP, in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, accused the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration of undermining the tenets of democracy and disregarding the core values of transparency and accountability. Alia was a Catholic Priest before venturing into politics in the 2023 general election.
The PDP in the statement said;
“It has become increasingly apparent that the Alia administration operates more like a Catholic parish than a democratic government, fundamentally undermining the principles and tenets of democracy that our citizens rightfully deserve.
Under Governor Alia’s administration, there is a blatant disregard for the core values of democratic governance, including accountability, transparency, regulatory control, rule of law, political stability and inclusiveness.
The administration has consistently failed to engage with the people of the state, opting instead for secrecy and exclusion from decision-making processes that affect our lives.
Critical issues beleaguering our state, including infrastructure decay, lack of basic services and the erosion of public trust remain unaddressed while the government prioritizes white elephant projects like new government houses, new universities and abandoned works on underpass projects in Makurdi and Gboko.
We demand that the governor lives up to his campaign promises by immediately clearing the backlog of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities as states are now receiving record allocations from the Federation Allocation Account Committee as comfirmed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu few months ago.
Considering the unprecedented enormity of funds accruable to the state under his administration, we wonder the delay in putting smiles on the faces of Benue workers, some of who have already embarked on a strike action.
The PDP is disturbed that in his nearly two years in office, he is yet to resettle a single displaced person back to his farmland as promised.
The statement further reads
‘’His utter silence in the face of brutal killings of Benue citizens stands condemned. Never in the history of Benue has security degenerated to its present state under his administration, and we are yet to see, hear or feel any concrete measure towards forestalling these killings.
The PDP also bemoans the abysmal treatment of the other arms of Government like the Benue State House of Assembly (BSHOA), which is now housed in makeshift facilities with plastic chairs.
The House has become a lame duck under his administration. We are saddened by his utter neglect and disregard for the Legislature as exampled by the continual freezing of State accounts and the abandonment of the Assembly Complex as well as favouritism within its ranks.
We firmly believe that good governance is not merely a slogan but a requisite for development and citizen well-being.
Unfortunately, the Alia government has demonstrated a lack of commitment to competence, character and capacity. The absence of effective communication and responsiveness to the needs of the people has left many feeling marginalized and disillusioned.
We call on the Governor to remember that he is a servant of the people and not a ruler of a parish. It is imperative that the administration shifts its focus from personal interests to the collective welfare of our citizens.
We call for a recommitment to the ideals of democracy, emphasizing accountability, transparency, and the active participation of all stakeholders in state affairs. We urge Governor Alia to take immediate action to rectify these failings.
The PDP will continue to advocate for a government that prioritizes the needs and voices of its citizens. We stand ready to hold the Alia administration accountable for its actions. We remain united in our commitment to ensure that the principles of democracy are upheld in Benue State.”