04/08/2025
HIS PERFORMANCE OR POSITION!
THE GAME CHANGER: HON. UGWU ODOH
Since the dissolution of the Benue state executive council by His Excellency, Gov Hyacinth Alia, reaction have continued to dominate media space with accusations and counter accusations all to tarnish the image and personality of Hon. Odoh Ugwu with cheap blackmail of collecting the sum of Three Hundred Thousand (N300,000) from less priviledged individual’s from his local government area.
If I may ask, the Honourable Commissioner collected N300,000?
From whom and how was the money collected?
Is Ugwu Odoh the Humanitarian and Disaster Management Commissioner?
Do you have interest in his position, what exactly is the aim of this unwarranted blackmail to pull down ur kinsman and an honest fellow?
You may choose to fact-check these, Ogbadibo food vendors' allocation is Two Hundred and Thirty(230 ) how these people came about the figure of Two Thousand is still baffling.
Where are the women that was shortchanged?
But again I wonder, are the personalities spreading these not aware of the position of the law that protects people from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations" (also known as the Social Media Bill) which seeks to criminalize the spread of false or malicious information online. Additionally, defamation laws and the Cybercrimes Act address online content, with penalties for false statements and misuse of the internet.
While the constitution guarantees free speech and the right to report corrupt practices, all must conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe on other people's rights and privileges.
For the records, since the return to democratic practice in 1999, various Commissioners for water resources in Benue state have contributed their quota to the development of the water sector in the state.
Despite multi billion dollar commitment in the past,
not much have been achieved due to lack of continuity or determination by successive administration in the state.
However, with the take -off of the Governor Alia-led administration, and Hon. Odoh Ugwu at the helm of affairs, the ministry has recorded great heights in overcoming most of the challenges which were bottlenecks in the past and facilitated newer innovations towards addressing water and environmental challenges across the state.
To mention but a few are:
-the payment of over 13yrs CGC debt that pave way for the complete rehabilitation of Otobi water works.
-the ongoing reticulation of water through pipping network to all major streets and environs in Otukpo to tackle water scarcity in Otukpo against the use of water tanker supply.
-The ongoing rehabilitation of Adoka -Icho ( Udabi) Dam which is to be reticulated through Agro Climate Resilience in Semi Arid Landscape(ACRESAL) a World Bank project.
Payment of counterpart funds for Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(PEWASH) -UNICEF for drilling of Boreholes and provision of sanitary facilities (Toilets) across all the senatorial zones in the state.
Procurement of 33 tractors in collaboration with Acresal towards improving farming in the state and provision of community Revolving fund (CRF )cooperatives in rural communities to improve and assist trading among locals.
-Facilitating the enactment of water reform law which was by the Benue state, house of Aassembly, signed into law and gazetted in 2024.
This no doubt is intended to make water a commodity and not utility as it open up water sector to investment in Benue .
-The Water Sanitation And Hygiene (WASH ) Policy which is also already in place in Benue.
-He Facilitated Ado and Ohimini Local Government being declared Open defecation free ( ODF)
- He equally Innitiated the facilitation of the waste to wealth policy anchored by SECTORLED who are in the state on private partnerships (PPP) arrangement with the state government on waste to wealth with a goal of creating thousands of jobs for the youths,eliminate public waste and improve our IGR
- he facilitated the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria(SPIN) project, a world bank project and today,Benue state is one of the beneficiaries in Nigeria.
While the Climate Change Policy was at the verge of completion before the desolution of exco by his Excellency the Executive Governor of Benue state.
With these achievements in less than two years in office, it is only logical to support the effort the Hon Commissioner have put in as it is a reflection of his determination to turn the tide, deliver on the governors mandate and give the Benue people the desired dividends of democracy. The Governor has made his choice and if we claim we love the Governor, why discredit his choice, why fighting someone that is putting in so much to deliver for the people?
We must also remember the clean hands doctrine which is based on the maxim of equity which states that one “who comes into equity must come with clean hands.”
Paul Odeh
Jos, Plateau state
National Leader, Alia For Better
