By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has disclosed that his administration on assumption of office granted Local Government Autonomy to councils in the state, thereby, describing as not only malicious but highly vexatious fabrications in some section of the media accusing him of withholding about N47. 8 billion local subvention meant for the administration of the 23 local government areas of the state.
Governor Alia while reacting to a publication credited to a group, Defenders of Democracy which also accused him of resisting the Local Government Autonomy in an argument to State the records straight, recalled that as soon as he came into office May 29, granted financial autonomy to local government councils in the state, clarifying further that monies meant for the councils are always sent directly to their various bank accounts.
The governor whose reaction was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula released yesterday in Makurdi, equally revealed that he has always made known his stand on the issue of local government autonomy at different fora, including his media outings, describing the misinformation designed to pitch the masses against him and the president on the other hand as wicked and unacceptable.
He recalled that in March 2024 while declaring open a two-day workshop put together by the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for Chairmen and members of the Interim Executives of various councils, he re- echoed the same stand by giving his full blessing to Local Government Autonomy, insisting that the Supreme Court pronouncement recently had only come as a backing to his earlier position.
He assured that as a progressive- minded leader, he would always remained very committed to president Tinubu’s desire to pursue the country’s rural transformation, believed to be achievable through local government autonomy.
The governor also stated that linking his administration with allegations of N47. 8 billion meant to be allocation for the 23 LGAs is the hike of desperation, describing the situation as antics of enemies of progress with the aim of painting his administration black, but recalled that a similar attempt made in the past accusing his government of embezzling over N20 billion from the Bureau had failed with the petitioners not only withdrawing their petition but equally tendered apology to the Bureau and government, and assured Benue people that there should be no cause for alarm on the issue of Local Government Autonomy.
Governor Alia also assured the federal government under president Ahmed Tinubu that Benue State under his watch is 100 percent in his support on the Local Government Autonomy and would continue to abide by its provisions, promising further that the masses of Benue who he the governor leads would always stand by the president.