By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
There was jubilations in Aliade, Gwer-East Local Government headquarters on Saturday when the Benue state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia arrived the Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in continuation of his “thank you” tour of the state to appreciate the people and presents his achievements in the past one year.
Governor Alia who was speaking at Saint Francis Primary School ground Aliade, thanked the people of the Constituency for their massive votes to him at the election, pledged to resuscitates the moribund Taraku Mills Limited which has been abandoned by successive administrations in the state.
He said, “already, arrangements are in the final stages to revive the multimillion naira Taraku Mills and put it into use to generate employment for teaming youths in this area”.
The Governor expressed deep appreciation with the host community for ensuring the security of the Mills, saying for all these years of abandonment, the company was never broken into and equipments stolen.
He further said, “my administration is determined to uplift facilities at the special school for the Gifted, and at Government Girls Secondary School all in Aliade. The Government Girls Secondary is an exchange post primary school located in this Federal Constituency”, the governor pointed out.
Gov. Alia who called on communities involved in land disputes in the local government to exercise restraint as the boundary commission would soon commence demarcation in all disputed lands across the state said, he was overwhelmed at the massive support given him by the people of the Constituency in the last governorship election.
In her welcome address earlier, Care-Taker Chairman, Gwer-East Local Government, Mrs. Comfort Agbo told the governor that, the people of the local government are “very proud of the achievements recorded by your administration so far”.
Mrs. Comfort Agbo pleaded with the governor to “forgive the National Assembly Members from the Constituency over their actions and utterances aimed at demeaning his person”, adding that, “the NASS Members in their actions and words, were not speaking for the people of the Constituency”.
Also speaking, Prof. Eugene Aliegba who spoke for the Federal Constituency, commended Gov. Alia for restoring relative peace in the area particularly, and the state in general.
“We are appealing to you, your Excellency, that as you have ensured the return of peace in the state, further ensure that the internally displaced persons return to their respective homes”, Prof. Aliegba said.
Prof. Aliegba who regretted that a vast majority of the people in Gwer-West area of the Constituency now take shelter in Naka, the local government headquarters because of the sustained attacks on their local communities this over populating the town, also appealed to the governor to disregard the enterprise NASA members from the Constituency are engaged in as they have not been speaking the minds of the people.
