By Friday Ekoja
ABUJA — Mr Eche Ofun John, Special Adviser on Media to Sen. Abba Moro, Senate Minority Leader, has expressed sympathy with the youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zone C of Benue over what he described as pressure on them to publicise the achievements of Gov. Hyacinth Alia.
Ofun John, in a statement, questioned what the youths were expected to showcase, given reports that about N24 billion accrued to the state monthly.
“With that kind of money, you would expect to see tangible projects. But in many places, it is difficult to point to anything substantial,” he said.
He said he recently returned from Zone C after spending two days there on a working visit.
The media aide said although he did not visit every part of the zone, he observed little that could clearly be attributed to the state government in the areas he visited.
Ofun John cited Otukpo as an example, saying he could not identify running water in the places he visited.
He also expressed concern over the condition of roads in the zone, despite claims that about N100 billion had been spent on roads and other infrastructure there.
He said he returned from the visit with three youths from Ado Local Government Area, who, according to him, expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of a road said to be under construction by the state government.
He said the youths were particularly unhappy about what they considered excessive praise for the project.
Ofun John said governors in some states had intervened in the rehabilitation of federal roads in their areas, with reimbursement later sought from the Federal Government.
He expressed concern that the Oweto–Otukpo Road remained a major challenge for residents of Zone C.
“People are suffering. And many are asking: Where is the government?” he said.
The media aide questioned what the APC youths were expected to tell the people about the government’s achievements.
“What exactly are these youths expected to publicise? What exactly are they supposed to tell the people?
“Because, from what I saw, there is very little on the ground to justify the resources reportedly coming to the state,” he said.
Ofun John urged political actors to avoid situations where they were compelled to make claims they knew were untrue.
“May we never find ourselves under a leader, or in a political party, where we are forced to make claims we know are not true,” he said.