The Benue State Governor Elect, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, following his victory recorded during the March 18 Governorship election.
Fr. Alia received the certificate of return alongside the Deputy Governor Elect, Dr. Sam Ode as well as the 32 House of Assembly Members elect for various State Constituencies.
During his acceptance speech, Fr. Alia noted that the certificate symbolized the collective mandate of the people of the state to push for accelerated development.
“This Certificate represents the trust in the government’s efforts to build a state in which everyone has equal status and responsibility”.
He gave the assurance that the mandate would be utilised maximally and optimally for the benefit of the state.
“We do not take this trust of Benue people for granted. We will remain quite loyal and patriotic to the tenets of our nation. We will remain faithful and great citizens of our dear state”.
To get the system working, Fr. Alia said he would hit the ground running by reinvigorating the Civil service for optimal productivity.
“Civil service is the engine room of government and for us to make it work, we will get to the drawing table to get the Civil Service work. Since the Civil Service in our state has crumbled, it has to be very functional before we move to any other thing”.
He commended the Benue people and assured them that he would be responsive and respsible to the yearnings of the Benue citizens.
Fr. Alia congratulated the Lawmakers elect and promised to ensure a robust relationship between Executive and the Legislative Arms of government in order to achieve meaningful development.
“I remain hopeful that this will be the assembly that will produce and create avenues for peace and economic growth by making all sections meaningful for the state to grow”.
Some House of Assembly members-elect who spoke to Voice of Nigeria in Makurdi pledged to cooperate with the Governor-elect and to provide quality legislation that would have a meaningful impact on the people of the state.
Voice of Nigeria reports that the Governor-elect was accompanied to the ceremony by former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Professor Steven Ugba, the State Chairman of APC, Comrade Austin Agada and other members of the party executives.
N.O
