A prominent Benue State supporter, Tagher Tagher Wan U Tiv, has thrown his weight behind Governor Hyacinth Alia's development strategy, arguing that the administration prioritises sustainable growth over short-term handouts. In a statement released to journalists on Friday, Tagher, widely known as Baba Atsar Gundu, said Alia's vision centres on building lasting economic opportunities through agriculture, infrastructure and skills training.
According to him, the state government distributes tractors and farming equipment to growers while running training programmes aimed at equipping youths and women with marketable skills. The administration is also building roads to help farmers transport crops from villages to urban markets, he noted.
Tagher argued that these projects, though less flashy than relief distributions on social media, deliver far greater long-term benefits to Benue's economy. He contrasted Alia's approach with what he called the palliative-focused strategy of some Abuja-based politicians who he accused of prioritising party politics over development.
While emergency aid serves a purpose during crises, it cannot solve the roots of poverty and joblessness, Tagher stressed. He maintained that the governor believes empowering citizens to earn their own income reduces reliance on state assistance and fuels genuine development.
Tagher urged Benue residents to back policies that unlock lasting opportunities rather than temporary fixes. Investments in farming, roads and human skills will ultimately touch more lives than one-off relief packages, he insisted.
The statement also called on citizens to tell apart quick-fix interventions from genuine long-term development as Benue pursues economic progress and better living standards.
