The governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has said his administration was resolute that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) must go back to their ancestral homes.

Governor Alia maintained that the people of Benue deserve peace to continue to feed the nation, noting that there was relative peace in other larger parts of the state.

The Governor stated this in Makurdi while playing host to the Board and Management of the North Central Development Commission led by Cosmos Akighir and Dr. Cyril Tseenyil who was in the state for a courtesy call.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, in a statement yesterday, said Alia called for a sincere collaboration between the North-Central Development Commission and Benue State government.

Governor Alia said his administration’s priority was to ensure insecurity is reduced to the barest minimum and the people living in IDPs’ camps are finally resettled.

He said, “We have done a lot to ensure we have peace in the state. We have drastically reduced the number of local governments that were gravely infested by insecurity.

“Already, there is relative peace in other larger parts of the state. But security is like a monster. Cut the tail and another part of the body will spring up. Cut the hand and you see another part of the body developing to cause havoc.”

Alia added, “Most importantly, we are resolute that our people must go back to their ancestral homes. The people of Benue State deserve peace to continue to feed the nation.”

Other areas the governor solicited for collaboration included agriculture, employment and infrastructure in the rural areas.

“Agriculture value chain must be on the front burner to create a response to the demands”, he stated.

“In our budget this year, we have prioritized rural development. But because these particular areas were neglected for a long time, no matter how much money you budget for this area, it will not be easy to have immediate impact, hence the need for support from your commission”, he added.

Governor Alia, however called on the Board and Management of the Commission to try their best to be apolitical, adding that once politics is introduced into a very sensitive commission like theirs, the main aim is defeated.