Governor Hyacinth Alia says Benue State is the least developed out of the 19 States in Northern Nigeria.
The governor said this during the breaking of fast organised for Muslim community in the state at the New Banquet Hall, Makurdi.
He said depsite the age of Benue state, it has remained backward in most areas of development and vowed to change the narrative by embarking on developmental projects to place the state at par with others in the country.
“Out of the 19 northern states, Benue state is one of the very least developed states. It is just now that we are putting even solar lights.
“As we have started work, all the hyenas are out to bite. That we should not construct roads, build schools, pay salaries and provide streets lights and I said no.
“The poor masses of Benue voted me the way no person in the history of Benue was ever voted for. It is better I work for the the masses.
“Today I invite even the young generation to go to the farms. Let’s go to the farm, join cooperatives and we will support you. The state government will give you the capital to farm.
“Nigeria has no room to talk about food insecurity. Only Benue can feed the nation, if the crisis stops and our farmers are back to their farms.”
Governor Alia said Nigerians were one and needed to be united to confront her common enemies such as bandits, gunmen, kidnappers, corruption, among others.
He said Nigerians needed their unity in diversity to make meaningful progress among the commity of nations.
“We are all one and this is why we have inter marriages. My sister is married to one of you (Muslim) and I find a lot of love in their home.
“All our holy books speaks about peace and love. So why do we create all this division and hatred. The one who created us all, desire for us to be peaceful and love one another.”
The governor also urged Nigerians to change their perception of government and religion.
“We need to change the way to think about government, ourselves and even religion. None of the holy books talks about picking tent against one another. They all talk about loving one another therefore we must show one another mercy.
“We were living together peacefully for decades until the bad guys bandits and unknown gunmen came killing us. They are not our friends. They don’t want peace. They are against us and we must unite to stop them
“We are the ones to prevent insecurity. The police and military can only help us to succeed. So no bad egg should hide under our good shield to cause us harm”.
He said the President Bola Tinubu meant well for the country and especially Benue state and needed their collective support to succeed.
“Pray for President Tinubu, he meant well for Nigeria and Benue state,” Alia said.
Earlier, in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Makurdi, Malam Umar Garba said the Muslim community in the state were at home and united in support of the Benue agenda.
Garba who is also member of the state Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, said any society that God wants to bless, he first bless it with a God fearing leader.
“We asked God to bless Governor Alia and Benue people; any society that God’s want to bless usually bless it with a God fearing leader. God didn’t make any mistake by making you Governor.
“Benue people loves you and are with you. Never give the devil any chance. We should be ambassadors of peace anywhere we are,” he said.
Also, the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Baba Salau appreciated the governor for being a strong pillar of the Muslim community in Benue state.
