By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has called on the Tor-Tiv and the Tiv Area Traditional Council to promote peace in their domain to attract meaningful development.
Gov. Alia made the call on Thursday when he emerged from a closed-door meeting with members of the Tiv Area Traditional Council TATC chaired by the Tor-Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orchiviligh Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, and other First Class Chiefs in Tiv land at the Tor-Tiv Palace in Gboko.
The Governor said, “the meeting which was centered on security of Benue people, was also for ensuring food security and provision of vital infrastructural development for the state”.
He said Benue State remains the national hub of food production but for very obvious reasons which has been unsettling the people, attacks, and land grabbing, the state is experiencing from armed herders and bandits, it has become worrisome that Benue people cannot even practice the form of Agriculture they know how to do best as agrarian people.
The Governor disclosed that during the meeting, he presented his scorecard and made the traditional rulers understand what his administration has done so far, what their challenges were, and what more they looked forward to doing.
“We also made a resolve to see what the Government can do to ensure that young people are gainfully employed”, he maintained.
Governor Alia who reiterated his commitment to the task of delivering good governance, thanked the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) for acknowledging the efforts his administration has made so far in building a new Benue, adding that the prayers and blessings he received would help him to do more for the people of Benue State.
Earlier, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse who is the Chairman, of Benue State Council of Chiefs, assured the Governor of their support and availability to partner with him to ensure that the much-needed peace and development return to Benue.
The Tor Tiv explained that, based on their assessment as Traditional Rulers, the Governor has started well and they hoped that he would also keep the tempo of the development till the end.
