Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has called on those discrediting the youths of the state by calling them thugs, to immediately apologize and desist from such.
The governor made the call in Government House Makurdi, on Friday, when different youth groups came out in their numbers to welcome him back from an official trip to the United States of America.
Addressing the groups, the governor said it was unfair of anyone to tag the hardworking young people of the state as thugs, insisting that such derogatory terms give the entire state a bad name.
“Any comment that does not go well with the image of the state and its very honourable individuals, this administration will take it up to you.
“When you see young people supporting this administration or working hard for the growth and development of Benue State, do not call the youths thugs.
“Whoever must have called the youths of the state thugs, first of all, I will like that person or those persons to withdraw that public statement.
“The youths of the state have suffered in the past so much that they are now gaining traction on sanity and development, and I wouldn’t want anyone to pocket them and have them stigmatized.
“If you don’t understand who a thug is, just shut up. Benue youths are thriving and are quite concerned about what happens here in the state and I will like everybody to honour them and to respect them,” he said.
While thanking the youths for standing firm, and for always supporting his administration, the governor informed them that he was away in the United States of America to look for ways that will enable his administration chart a new course for Benue.
“Benue State was no longer on the International radar, and with the new Sherriff in town, we needed the whole world to know that Benue State is here.
“Benue State is the real deal and Benue State is the home for development.
“And with the way we have charted it now, Benue state is going to be a place where a number of states will be coming to enquire about what is happening here so that they take it back to their various states,” he added.
He said Benue was amongst the 19 Northern states that were invited to USA by the United States Peace Institute, in collaboration with establishments here in Nigeria, to rub minds and chart a way forward on the insecurity challenge in the Northern states.