The Executive Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Council, Hon. Gabriel Adole, has commended Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia for what he described as unprecedented support to local governments, citing improvements in security, infrastructure and workers’ welfare in Ohimini
Hon. Adole spoke on Wednesday during an assessment visit by journalists to Ohimini Local Government Area. He described the Governor as “a wonderful father, mentor, brother and friend” who responds promptly to requests from council chairmen.
“My happiness as Chairman is that the moment there is anything, I will put a call to the Governor and he will pick and respond immediately,” Gabriel said.
The Chairman said one of the biggest challenges inherited in 2023 was an oversized workforce and poor federal allocation.
“When we came on board, we inherited about 870 staff. Our allocation is almost at the bottom in Benue. Most of the money that comes in goes to salary and wages,” he explained.
He noted that unlike bigger LGAs with staff strength of about 105 that have funds left for projects after salaries, Ohimini often had to borrow after statutory payments.
“Thank God for Father Alia. With what they have been doing about autonomy, we are achieving with the speed of light,” Hon. Adole stated. He added that the current staff strength has been reduced to about 600.
Adole listed several projects executed in the last period. They include the renovation of the Ohimini Guest House to accommodate posted state personnel, and the rehabilitation of the first police station in Ohimini which had been abandoned for over 30 years. “The facility now, also houses the DSS, Civil Defense Corps and the Magistrate Court.
He disclosed that the administration also completed a 20km road construction and upgrading project, sank boreholes in several wards, and carried out electrification in some communities. The Chairman further disclosed that work is ongoing on the Onyagede-Awume road.
On the Governor’s statewide road intervention, the Chairman said: “In the history of Benue State, no governor has ever done 1km road in all the local governments. Today we are bragging because the Governor has approved 5km road for each local government. It is a boost to democracy.”
Hon. Adole said security was the most critical challenge in Ohimini, which he described as the most affected LGA in Zone C on kidnapping.
“Today, because we asked them to go, there is nothing like kidnapping in our place again. The last set of people that were kidnapped, when we called the state government, they deployed personnel. The pressure in the bush was much. The kidnappers took them to the road and said ‘find your way,’” he said.
He added that communities such as Ilolo 1 and 2, and part of Anwule, which were previously deserted, have now been resettled. “The people have all returned home and are going about their family activities,” he said.
On farmer-herder relations, the Chairman said their efforts have yielded results as the herders have vacated farm lands. Hon. Adole said Governor Alia had approved vehicles for council leaders, secretaries, vice chairmen among others describing it as the first in the history of the state.
“When I was a councilor 22 years ago, we knew nothing like allowances, bikes or motors for councilors. Today Father Alia has approved vehicles for all of us,” he said.
The Chairman declared that a second term for Governor Alia in 2027 was “sacrosanct,” saying no one could challenge him given his record.
“We are not even talking of his returning in 2027. We are thinking of what other things God has in store for him. There is nobody that can say he is coming to challenge Father Alia. He has done so much for us,” Hon. Adole said.
In his remarks, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber who led the team said the union would continue to project the activities of Ohimini Local Government to the outside world.
The assessment visit to Ohimini is part of ongoing tours by the media to document projects and governance at the grassroots across Benue State.
