Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has assured President Bola Tinubu of more votes from the state in his re-election.
He also assured the president that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remained united in the state despite recent internal disagreements, saying the party would emerge stronger.
Addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja, Alia, who was in the company of a former governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, pledged that Benue would increase its electoral support for Tinubu.
His words: “As I won the election the first time, we are going to double the numbers for Mr. President, and the APC will continue to remain united in Benue State.”
He acknowledged agitations among party faithful in the state as a fall out from the APC primaries but insisted they were temporary.
According to him, “There have been some agitations from APC faithful after the primaries, but I believe they will calm down. Mr. President is a democrat, who understands these processes. We worked together to build the APC, and I am confident we will remain one family.”
Alia also said he used the meeting to brief the President on the security situation in the state, reporting significant improvements after months of violent attacks.
He said the Predident sought updates on the condition of internally displaced persons (IDPs), their return to their communities and the security measures being implemented to support farming activities during the current planting season.
Said he: “Previously, we had a lot of insecurity, but it has calmed down. The President wanted to know the position of the IDPs and whether those voluntarily returning home still have anxieties.
“This is the farming season, and because Benue is the food basket of the nation, he wanted to know how we are tackling those challenges. We briefed him accordingly.”
The governor described the security situation as “relatively calm” and expressed optimism that peace would continue to take root across the state.
He, however, appreciated Tinubu for attending the recent Benue at 50 celebration, describing the President’s presence as a major boost for the state.
He explained that the President inaugurated the state’s fruit concentrate factory during the anniversary, while two other industrial projects, a beer factory and a fruit juice processing plant, are awaiting inauguration.
Alia also noted that the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu had earlier inaugurated 10 urban renewal roads executed by his government during her visit to the state.
He added that the meeting afforded him the opportunity to update the President on governance, development projects and the overall situation in Benue, expressing confidence that the state was on a path of greater stability and economic growth.