By Peter Ahenekaa
It is now clear that governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state does not have any idea of what to with the mandate given to him by the people of the state and has left the wheel of governance in the hands of his chief of staff Paul Biam who is showing his dictatorial tendencies.
Remember the day that the governor proclaimed the Benue State House of Assembly, chief of staff Paul Biam was on video exchanging bitter words with the state chairman of APC Austin Agada. Such a thing has never been heard of before! One month has passed since then and not even a caution or query has been issued to the iron man Biam.
The chief of staff has taken over the running of Alia’s government and the governor is clueless and inept. Insiders say that Alia loves what Biam is doing! The governor spurs him on whenever he takes a punitive action against anyone. After Biam assaulted chairman Agada, governor Alia was later heard giving him thumbs up and telling him “orne that was a great job”.
Strong man Paul Biam has taken over the duties of secretary to the state government (SSG) too and has told the man who is fresh from the classroom as a university teacher that on no account should he bypass him to reach the governor directly. The SSG who has no experience in government is like an errand boy to the iron man Paul. Did you see how some sack letters sent to heads of government agencies by the SSG were later withdrawn and those agency heads asked to resume their duties? That was iron man Paul Biam in action.
The chief of staff has warned appointees of the governor including the principal private secretary that nothing must get to the attention of the governor without his permission. He has already drawn a battle line ahead of the appointment of commissioners. He said when the commissioners come in, none of them will be allowed to see the governor until he is present in such a meeting.
To crown his supremacy, Biam now calls the Alia administration “my government” meaning that he Paul is the one governing the state. Those who attended the burial of the wife of Dr Laha Dzever yesterday in Buruku can confirm this. The chief of staff repeatedly referred to the administration as “my government”. He spoke at the funeral like an emperor. Biam justified every decision the government has so far taken and said more of such punitive decisions will come.
Alia has proven those who criticized his candidacy right. He has no vision and does not have good intentions. To allow Biam to be harassing top party officials while he nods in approval shows that the man himself is not a good person. The group they hate to see most is the camp of SGF Senator Akume. Anyone from Akume’s camp who goes to see the governor is blocked and not given the opportunity to see him.
The “Yes Father” chorus has died down even before the 2nd month of the government. Those who worked very hard for the victory of Alia have been neglected. The man has found new friends. He picks only the phone calls of his new friends.
Alia has boasted with APC members that he can leave their party to join a small party and still win election. He said he did the party a favour by joining them so no one should bother him with requests.
As the saying goes, “many can attend a healing mass but not everyone is allowed to partake in holy communion”.
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