The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni, has described the recent comments made by the Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, in which he allegedly said “If you are Idoma and you have Idoma blood in you don’t vote Governor Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia he is not a good person”, as “irresponsible, unpatriotic and dishonest.”
The Deputy Governor made these remarks on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists who sought his reaction to Senator Morro’s recent statement concerning Governor Alia’s re-election bid.
Dr. Ode noted that such comments were “unbecoming of a person of Senator Morro’s standing in society”. He stressed that occupying an elective office does not give anyone the liberty to sow seeds of discord among constituents or promote divisive rhetoric along ethnic lines. He therefore described the statement as “hate speech.”
The Deputy Governor further challenged Senator Morro to present his scorecard to the people of Zone C, noting that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governed Benue State for the greater part of the period between 2015 and 2023. He questioned what meaningful development the party delivered to Idoma land during those years.
Dr. Ode, however, highlighted some of the key achievements of the current administration in Benue South, including ‘the ongoing construction of the 52-kilometre Awaji–Oju Road at the cost of ₦25.7 billion, the road which connects Gwer East and Oju Local Government Areas”.
He also cited the 31.5-kilometre Igumale–Apa–Agila Road, awarded at a cost of ₦19.3 billion, as well as the 43-kilometre Obagaji–Okokolo–Agagbe Road costing ₦29.8 billion, which links Agatu and Gwer West Local Government Areas.
According to the Deputy Governor, when completed, the road projects which value is over 75 Billion Naira will significantly enhance connectivity within the entire Benue South Senatorial District and adjoining areas.
Ode further noted that “the administration has revitalised the Otobi Water Works including reticulation of phase one of Otukpo Township water network in the sum of 1.5 Billion Naira. Rehabilitation of 33 primary healthcare centres in the senatorial district , revitalised primary school infrastructures, and recruited 9,700 teachers to address staffing gaps in public primary schools across the state”.
He also pointed to the prompt payment of salaries and pensions, describing it as a clear departure from the experiences of 2015 to 2023.