The umbrella organization of Tiv Youths worldwide, Tiv Youths Organization, (TYO) has debunked claims by Benue Assembly Caucus and Federal Appointees Forum that Benue youths have shunned the ongoing hunger protests across at the instance of the lawmakers and Benue federal appointees, saying the youths couldn’t have listened to federal appointees from Benue State who have a history of “neglecting the youths even in the face of the ongoing hunger protests in the country.”
Spokesperson, Forum Of Local Government Unit Presidents of TYO, Comrade Vincent Kaior, while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday (August 6), said their refusal to join the nation wide protest was to honour the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who appealed to them to shelve the plan.
“We have seen him as a man with a focused vision. We saw that attempting to join that protest would have been an opportunity for enemies of progress to cease the exercise and wreak havoc in the state with fine infrastructures built as targets,” Kaior said.
The youth leader recalled that leaders of the two groups had, in a publication, dated 2nd August, 2024 showered praises on Benue youths for resisting the temptation to join in the ongoing national protest, describing this as wisdom, which has saved the state from chaos and instability, and prevented wanton destruction of lives and property.
While they commended the forum for appreciating them for always choosing the right path that will ensure peace and enhance development at all times, the youths said “it would have been wonderful had the publication ended there.”
“However, going further, the forum assured us of providing direction and leadership for the youths. Also, it assured us of their support.”
Spokesman of TYO said while preparation for the nationwide protest was in top gear, no member of the said group bothered to come home to address the youths and enjoin them to shun the protest.
“If anything, it was the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia who was dutifully up and doing, putting in great effort which informed our decision to choose peace over protest,” Kaior stressed.
“We shunned the protest in solidarity with the laudable feats achieved by the Governor within the short time he has been in office,” he said, naming massive political appointments/employment to youth, construction of township roads, procurement of vehicles for security operatives, revival of several state owned moribund companies, prompt payment of workers emoluments, pensions and gratuities, provision of relief materials to IDPs, supply of subsidized herbicides and fertilizer to farmers among others, as some of Gov Alia’s achievements in the past one year.”
They expressed hope that Governor Alia would take the cries occasioned by the current hardship to the President for onward action to bring relief.
While acknowledging that the lawmakers and appointees might have made some effort to offer support to the youths, TYO said their support has not been felt as they made it sound.
“We hear it more in your words than feel same in your actions,” the youths sneered. “Noticeably, our relationship with you, our leaders blossoms during electioneering but turns very cold once it’s time for governance.
“If you care about us the way you want us to believe, then most of our challenges, including our welfare, would be far better taken care.”
They said despite their support to the federal appointees of the Tiv extraction, Tiv Youth Organization, the umbrella body of the youths of Tiv extraction, has never received any palliatives or relief materials from the forum since the beginning of the current dispensation, be it during festivities or any season.
They noted that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu encourages agriculture, preaching local production of food, the forum has never released incentives, herbicides or fertilizer to Tiv Youth Organization to enhance food production.
Kaior who expressed TYO’s willingness to support the leaders, urged them to close the gulf that exists between them to enhance greater development of the state.
Having also shunned the protest for peace to reign in the state, TYO called on one faction of the ruling APC to shelve their planned meeting and give peace a chance, especially now that many parts of the country are experiencing turbulence occasioned by the nationwide protest.
TYO also called on the leaders of the state to help the National President of the organization who has been critically ill with complicated internal organ infections.
They appreciated Prince Solomon Wombo for his support and urged others to assist him.
The youths told the leaders: “We appeal that you practicalise the support you preach, beginning with your absolute show of concern over the ill-health of our President. This will go a long way in restoring the confidence and belief you want us to have in your words.”
