Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has celebrated his thirty-fourth priestly ordination anniversary at the IBB Square, Makurdi where he channeled donations meant for him to Mama Abayol Orphanage Home Makurdi.
Speaking at the thanksgiving mass organised for the purpose, the governor who expressed appreciation to the Benue people for mandate to serve, told the crowd that those with the intention to give donations to him should forward their donations to the Orphanage Home to alleviate the suffering of the orphans.
The governor informed that his coming into politics was a child of necessity as the Benue people needed change because of the inequality in the state occasioned by bad governance.
Alia who lamented that decay in the system. disclosed that pensioners, civil servants and youths among others were suffering, a situation that necessitated his election.
He noted that his administration has started addressing the challenges in the healthcare sector with improved facilities at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital like Cancer Centre, construction and rehabilitation of roads and under passes as well as addressing of security challenges in the state among others areas.
In his remarks, the Tor Tiv and Chairman Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Orcivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, who spoke on behalf of the traditional institution told the crowd that traditional rulers were apolitical and they were fathers to all and cautioned the political class to avoid dragging them into politics.
Prof. Ayatsen noted that they were fed up with all the skirmishes and assured the governor of the support of the traditional rulers.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Igyuse Doki who spoke on behalf of the governor’s classmates appreciated the Benue people for electing one of them as governor and assured him of their unalloyed support and prayers for him to succeed.
In his homily, Rev. Fr. Dr. Patrick Alumunku, who harped on the virtues of honesty, love and perseverance noted that Governor Alia has exhibited all these qualities even as the governor of the state.