Much has been given to Benue South, they must defend Alia, Tinubu in 2027 — Gbenda Terver

The Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia on Youth Organisations, Terver Gbenda, has again called on youths in Benue South Senatorial District, Zone C, to support and defend the governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Gbenda, who has recently come under criticism from groups in Benue South following his political outing in Otukpo, said much had been given to youths from the zone through appointments and other opportunities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He therefore urged them to reciprocate by supporting Tinubu and Alia and defending the governor against what he described as insults and attacks.

“Most of your uncles and most of your brothers have been given appointments. Most of them are at the federal level. Tinubu is supporting them, and Tinubu has appointed so many sons in that axis.

“So, there’s every need for the Zone C youth to rise up and support President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Reverend Dr. Hyacinth Alia,” Gbenda said.

His latest remarks come days after his Otukpo outing sparked reactions from sections of the Benue South youth community.

The OchetohaK’Idoma Youth Wing Worldwide had demanded an apology from Gbenda over statements attributed to him during the outing, accusing him of making provocative remarks and insisting that Idoma youths could not be threatened in their own land.

Gbenda, however, maintained that he did not insult the youths of Zone C, saying his message was directed at those who, according to him, attack or insult the governor.

“I didn’t insult the youth of Zone C. I only told the Zone C youth to rise up. Much has been given to them, so they should rise up and defend the government.

“Much has been given to them, so they should rise up and preach the gospel of the government. They should rise up and defend whoever is doing very well with Reverend Dr. Hyacinth Alia,” he said.

The governor’s aide further called on youths in the zone to resist anyone who comes to the area to attack or insult Alia.

“Zone C youth, still resist anybody who will come and attack the governor in Zone C. Still resist anybody who will come and insult the governor in Zone C, because much has been given to you. You need to give much to the government,” Gbenda said.

He also predicted a strong performance for the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Benue South in 2027, saying the party would win the senatorial, federal constituency and state assembly contests in the zone.

“APC is going to wipe the whole of Zone C this time around. No party will win Zaki, I give you my word. APC is going to take over the senatorial zone,” he declared.

Gbenda went on to name Francis Ottah, Blessing Onuh, Ojotu Ojema and Anthony Agom among candidates he said would win their respective constituencies.

“We are going to clear all our House of Representatives seats in Zone C, and the whole House of Assembly members in Zone C, we are going to clear all of them,” he said.

He also urged supporters to ensure APC wins from the polling-unit level through the wards and local government areas.

Gbenda attributed his confidence to what he described as the performance of the Tinubu and Alia administrations.

“APC is doing very well, and Father Alia is doing very well, Tinubu is doing very well,” he said.

His latest comments add another layer to the growing political controversy surrounding his recent activities in Benue South, coming shortly after he declared, “No Alia, No Benue,” in a fresh mobilisation message to his supporters.