Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has assured that his government will not approve land for the construction of houses as Fulani colonies in the State as being proposed by the Federal Government, but will encourage the settlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The assurance is coming barely hours after the opposition Peoples Democdatic Party, (PDP) in the State accused the governor of masterminding the inclusion of Benue as one of the seven States slated for the colony projects across the country.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula said, the homes to be built in Benue will be for IDPs and not for colonies.
It will be recalled that Vice President Kashim Shettima last week Friday, announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved a total of N50 billion for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to kick-start the Pulaku initiative – a non-kinetic solution to the crisis confronting the north east region.
Shettima said that President Tinubu had approved the construction of 1, 000 houses in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue, with all the ancillary facilities of schools, clinics, veterinary clinics and ranches for the fulani community; in Kaduna and Benue, he insisted that all the victims must be carried along.
According to Tersoo, “our attention is drawn to a story making headlines on the social media that Governor Hyacinth Alia, has included Benue in the list of states to get Fulani colonies. The story is false and should be disregarded.”
The Benue State governor’s spokesman continued that “as earlier explained, it is a burning desire of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the present administration to return the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their homes, as soon as possible.
“However, since most of their houses have been destroyed by the gun carrying marauding herders, the federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has agreed to sponsor the reconstruction of new homes for our Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“The homes are to be built in cluster formats, enabling our people to live more closely with each other and to experience more stability. Be rest assured that in Benue, the homes are for our people and not for any colony, whatsoever.
“Benue people should know that Governor Hyacinth Alia will not do anything that will undermine the goodwill he has gotten from the wonderful people of the state. The governor means well for the people of the state and as such, will always put them first.
“The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia Monday denied approving land for the construction of 1,000 housing units for Fulani houses in the State, a development which is seen as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the lingering crisis of herders/farmers crisis in the region,” the statement noted.
“As earlier explained, it is a burning desire of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the present administration to return the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their homes, as soon as possible.”
The Benue State spokesman explained that since most of their houses have been destroyed by the gun carrying marauding herders, the federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has agreed to sponsor the reconstruction of new homes for our Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“The homes are to be built in cluster formats, enabling our people to live more closely with each other and to experience more stability.
“Be rest assured that in Benue, the homes are for our people and not for any colony, whatsoever. Benue people should know that Governor Hyacinth Alia will not do anything that will undermine the goodwill he has gotten from the wonderful people of the state. The governor means well for the people of the state and as such, will always put them first,” Tersoo dded.
