Benue@ 50: Gov Alia immortalises Murtala Muhammed, Dan Agbese, others

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has moved to immortalise the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed and other eminent past leaders from the state.

The governor made the declaration during a live broadcast to the people of Benue State to mark the Golden Jubilee of the state earlier today at Government House, Makurdi.

Gen. Murtala Muhammed created Benue State, alongside other states, on February 3, 1976 during his tenure as Head of State.

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.

Gov. Alia said there was an urgent and moral necessity to honour past heroes and those who laid enduring foundations for generations to inherit.

He explained that as the military leader who brought the state into being, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, merited permanent remembrance.

In a similar vein, the governor renamed the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation after the late veteran journalist, Chief Dan Agbese, henceforth to be known as the Dan Agbese Printing and Publishing Corporation.

He indicated that the late Wanteregh Paul Unongo, Elder Isaac Shaahu, Sen. Suemo Chia, Gen. Atom Kpera, the late Tashaku Oradi, and many other distinguished sons and daughters of the state—living and departed—would, in due course, have various legacy institutions named in their honour.

Gov. Alia also exercised clemency on 14 inmates serving different prison terms, while one inmate, Terhumba Aondona, had his sentence reduced from 10 years to four years.

Those granted clemency are Akaajime Imoter, Kongusu Terzugwe, Terngu Orshi, Ornaa Achagh, Zwa Achir, Terkimbi Amadu, Iorpenda Christian, Aondowaae Terlumun, Oriba John, Sughnen Terfa James, Akaahar Isaac, Ordam Thankgod, Gwayem Agba James, and Iorfa Terkimbi.