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The failure of the Benue State government to provide newly elected Local Government Chairmen across the 23 council areas with official vehicles has raised significant concerns about the officials’ security and safety.
Many of them have resorted to using motorcycles (commonly known as “okadas”) to commute to their offices and conduct community assessments.
Informed sources, who spoke with this platform on condition of anonymity, revealed that no fewer than three chairmen (names withheld) have been involved in “okada” accidents, resulting in minor injuries and dislocations.
It was gathered that the council chairmen began using motorcycles for their official duties as they could no longer afford to hire vehicles, which they had been using since their inauguration.
Recall that the council elections were held on Saturday, October 6, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winning all 23 chairmanship seats and 276 councillorship positions.
However, approximately three weeks after receiving their certificates of return from the chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Richard Tombowua, the state government has yet to provide the chairmen with official vehicles.
A source stated that one of the council chairmen was unfortunate enough to sustain injuries in an accident while being transported to his office on a motorcycle.
“It is sad that about three weeks after securing landslide victories in their respective councils, the 23 chairmen have not been given official vehicles to enable them to hit the ground running.
“Due to the passion many of the newly elected local government chief executives have for service, they resorted to plying what is known in local parlance as ‘okada.’
“From the feelers I got, three of the council chairmen have since fallen off these means of transportation, sustaining varying degrees of injuries,” the source said.
“I heard that one of them even suffered dislocation and has since been receiving treatment,” another source revealed, confirming the troubling developments. This source described the situation as “a very huge embarrassment to both the office of the chairman and that of the grassroots.”
Nonetheless, the source hinted that the Governor, Very Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has taken steps to address the issue by procuring vehicles for official purposes.
“We heard that an influential political appointee of the governor, whose office coordinates activities of the third tier of government, is allegedly delaying the release of official cars.
“The reason for the delay is what has continued to baffle both the chairmen and all other critical stakeholders who are eager to see development return to the grassroots,” he said.
He, however, exonerated Governor Fr. Hyacinth Alia from the challenges faced by the state council chairmen, revealing that the governor has done everything within his powers to ensure the chairmen are comfortable in the exercise of their official assignments.
“We know His Excellency, Gov. Alia, does not allow his aides to overreach themselves, as he insists on playing by the rules and adhering to other principles that portray his administration in a positive light.
“It is such misdemeanours that resulted in the recent suspension of the State’s Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Mynin,” the source concluded.
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