From Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue state, Sir Tersoo Kula, has said that Gov. Hyacinth Alia is not in any way averse to constructive criticisms and scrutiny. “As a matter of fact, he cherishes feedback in all he does with and for the public,” he stated.
In a press statement made available to The AUTHORITY newspaper on the 28th August 2023, the CPS described Gov. Alia as a “very responsible leader who is a firm believer in the constitutional rights of citizens, including, the Right to freedom of expression”.
The statement pointed out that, “there is however, an apparent distinction between freedom of speech and mischievous fabrications. While Nigeria’s laws permit the former, it frowns at the latter”.
The Governor, the statement stressed, is not oblivious of the main role of opposition in a democracy, which is to scrutinise government decisions, policies, and actions, and play oversight over the Executive and its public policies.
Sir Kula said, “Men who are to live together peacefully must be able to argue together, adding that the governor is truly very well at home with this”.
“The opposition must argue responsibly. There must be decorum in all engagements, and this should be devoid of lies, fabrications and all shades of blackmail. We should be patriotic.
“If we all agreed that Benue is ours, then, we need to put our state first in all our considerations and undertakings”, the statement further stressed.
According to the statement, “in Benue at the moment, let it be known that Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia now embodies the state. Any negativity that affects his person, has an adverse impact on the state. Perpetual villainous falsity against him will certainly affect the state and its machinery”.
Sir Kula added that, “desperate bid to caustically paint the governor black by labeling his hard-earned reputation, one may be scaring investors, development partners, donor agencies and even the federal government from sending interventions to the state believing, though wrongly, that the man in charge of the state cannot be trusted with such interventions. Then, who loses”?
