The government of Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia was greeted with liberation, prosperity and generally ‘enjoyment.’
The people thought with the ‘man of God’ in the seat of power, suffering would vanish into the tin air, and he would, like Jesus in the bible, heal the ailing wealth condition of the people. Maybe in the future, for now, there is wailing in the land, suffering, and hardship are the order of the day. But of course, some are suffering and smiling.
No one seems happy with the government, at least not yet. The Commissioners and Appointees and members of the state House of Assembly, are experiencing one form of hardship or the other.
COMMISSIONERS
It took Governor Alia months after his swearing-in to appoint commissioners and form his executive council. Four months after his inauguration, precisely on August 29, seventeen (17) and some special Advisers were inaugurated.
Sadly, three months after their inauguration, they have no official cars, some without offices.
Some of the Commissioners are borrowing to take care of their families. Some are staying away from their houses for fear of debtors, while others are reportedly taking okada to work.
There is a story told of a commissioner who took a Motorcycle (okada) to work. No commissioner should be subjected to this political torture capable of tarnishing his or her political career for no fault of his.
Benue Commissioners seem to be the only ones without official cars. Some Commissioners in other states appointed after those of Benue State have got their cars and offices. They are working not walking like those in Benue State.
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The case of other Appointees is not different if not worse.
Recently, a media aide of the Governor, Asortar told the world he is suffering even though he sings praises to the government to hoarse. He posted on his Facebook page that he would be temporarily off Facebook because he had a bad phone and would be fixing it. He is still off Facebook over a week now.
House of Assembly members
The current Benue State House of Assembly members may be regarded as the most misfortune members. They have been starved of funds literally. Since their inauguration, they have not received their statutory cars from the executive arm of government. Most of them are owing taxi drivers who bring them for Plenary months of unpaid services. Some of them are battling to pay their house rent and children’s school fees.
The state governor may not be aware of the dangers of starving his appointees funds as well as the state legislators. He should be told that he is digging his political grave should he hold any ambition of taking his political career higher.
