Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Monday administered the oath of office to 17 new commissioners, delivering a compelling message that has strongly resonated with many citizens, including the fact that there are people in the state who only think, dream, and walk squatting sharing money. Terhemen Mbachirin was there for NewsQuest and brings the excerpts;
Why the Choice of Commissioners
Today, prepares us for the journey of tomorrow. Out of the very many people in the different local governments you came from, you became the choices for today, which means, you are professionals, you understand public service, you understand transparency, you understand accountability, you understand governance, and discipline. This is why you accepted to be of service to your state, and to your people in Benue State. I congratulate all of you.
The clarion call
While it is a very great honour that has been bestowed on you this day, to whom much and more is given, much is expected. More is given to you today. From the many all over the state, you are the choice for this day in this administration, for this mission and for this vision. It is of great import to me as a Governor and to all of us as an administration that the mission be closely observed and the vision be fully executed. Which means, you are people driven. You are development featured, and you are people oriented, very critical. Maybe, in your yesterday life, you were stingy. By the virtue of you becoming a commissioner, you are no longer your yesterday.
Commissioners must carry the people along
Dear commissioners, please eat in your houses with both your gates and the doors of your houses openned. Share what you have with your people. You have come from all over the three zones. We have Zone C, B and A. You have come from all over the federal constituencies we have. It is an onus on you as politicians, you work for the party APC that is gotten you installed in this position this day, for victory 2027. You must be both administrators, disciplinarians and politicians, and your people must see you as such. Be with your people. If week comes, spend it in your village or in your town. This is very critical to me and to all of us. Your people must smell you, must know you, must feel you, and they must also touch you.
If by chance, don’t say it at all, but if by chance, you feel that there will be no money for you to give your people. It is not late for you to resign. Make it a duty upon you to reach out to your cronies, to your wards. As you are there with them, let them know the programmes we are doing.
Some modest strides of the government
But the last two years, we have done some works with a huge magnitude that would cover six years. Tell the people what we have done. Tell them how much money we have spent, tell them, let them understand that they told us to do those projects. Let them understand how all these things are done. Be there for them. Be the spokesperson for this government.
Commissioners oath
You have taken an oath to keep the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You also said, always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And you continued that you will strive to preserve the fundamental objectives and directive principle of state policy contained in the constitution of the Federation. You also said that you will not allow your personal interest to influence your official conduct or your official decisions, that you will do the best of your ability to preserve, to protect, and to defend the Constitution, you will do right to all manner of people according to law, without fear, affection or ill will. That you will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter, which shall be brought under your consideration, or shall become known to you as a commissioner of the state, except as may be required for the discharge of your duty as commissioner. You should take this very seriously. This is power packed- that in all circumstances, you will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour. Benue can be complicated sometimes.
More so, that at this season, we are fighting insecurities and insurgencies. You must join ranks and powers to fight insecurities in your local government and in the state. As it is in Benue, so it is in every other state.
One Benue, different people
You have those who think very differently from what the administration thinks. You have those who do not even dream about development. You have those in the state who only think and dream, and walk squatting and sharing money. This is an administration that targets development and progress, and growth. This is an administration that works to put something in the pockets of the market women who do not even know your names. This is an administration that takes care of the very little kids who are out there, who do not even know that I am their Governor. This is an administration that takes care about the welfare of not only the civil servants or the pensioners, but of the entire citizenry in the state.
The vision, mission
This is our vision, and this is what we must do to keep our own dignity and our own good name. Let the aoth you have taken be translated into very direct actions this day, it is very critical that Benue must grow together. Let us put our hands together to ensure that Benue grows. Someone sent a text message to me a few days ago. I assume that he is my brother in Tiv. He wrote; ‘Levelent Father, ahead, ahead, ahead.’ I answered six amen for the six years remaining in our administration. Which means, we have a lot of task ahead.
Work in the manner, in the way, in the fashion, and in a texture that defines this vision of ours. This administration is people oriented. It is not individual oriented. If it were, the many, many millions of people in Benue couldn’t have voted for me. And it is the same millions that made choices of you. Now that you have come on board, while I congratulate you, loyalty is very important to the hard work you do.
Loyalty non-negotiable
Remain loyal to the state. Very loyal. Confidentiality is very critical. What happens in your ministry, what happens at the exco stays right out there. It must not be taken to your families, to your wives or to your husbands. It is state affair, and the state matter, be serious at it. Any slight breach of this indicts you.Take it very seriously. It is very clear that our objectives are not hidden from anyone. Consider transparency, responsibility and accountability, I urge you to periodically speak with the media. Let them know what our administration is doing. Let them know what your ministerial functions are and how you are managing them. Let them understand how you are governing them.
Get out there in your local government. You are commissioners. In order not to steal away your joys and celebration with your families this afternoon, you will only get your portfolios on Wednesday as we meet for the your first exco meeting. so you have a whole day to Jubilate and feel free bye.
The 2027 hope rising
My dear commissioners, any portfolio you are given is for the entire State. The state encapsulates 23 local governments. If I were a commissioner, the Governor will be begging me to at least sleep in Makati for once or twice, because 23 local governments is a lot of work, and you must be seen visibly working at those local governments. I am about the grassroots, I am about the people. If I am about 2027, it is not me, its about the people, and the people means the grassroots.
Be at the grassroots, work with them. We have done enormous work in the last two years. We are a transformative government. This is our vision, and so you have come on board to exercise the same vision we have shared. Make it an nous on you, not only to respect it, but to do it in a way that no other commissioner has done before. Leave your huge mark. Work as if you only have today, just to leave, give your all for the state, be the best you can be for your state.
