Benue: Gov Alia attacking Ortom to divert attention from ₦100bn loan controversy – Akase

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of launching baseless attacks on his predecessor to divert public attention from growing concerns over the ₦100 billion loan recently approved for his administration by the State House of Assembly.

In a statement released on Saturday by his aide, Terver Akase, Alia described the governor’s latest comments against Ortom as a “tired diversionary tactic” aimed at evading accountability and silencing genuine questions about the management of state resources.

“Governor Alia’s latest outburst, rather than addressing legitimate concerns raised about the ₦100 billion loan, went berserk—as has become his government’s trademark—by attacking Chief Ortom and his administration,” Akase stated.

He said the governor’s behaviour “further exposes the administration’s growing intolerance for accountability and its obsession with dragging Ortom’s name into every issue, no matter how unrelated.”

Akase noted that despite a more than 500 percent increase in federal allocations, Benue remains behind other states in the payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities, accusing the governor of failing to justify the huge revenues that have accrued since May 2023.

He also questioned the transparency of several high-value contracts, citing the ₦68.3 billion rehabilitation of a 13-kilometre road in Makurdi and the ₦73 billion project leading to the governor’s village in Vandeikya, which he said were awarded without due process or budgetary provision.

“Each time Governor Alia is confronted with questions about transparency or the welfare of Benue people, his reflex action is to attack Chief Ortom instead of providing facts and figures,” Akase added.

Akase challenged the Alia administration to publish details of the state’s finances, including the handling of funds from the removal of fuel subsidy, the balance of the ₦41 billion bailout fund, and other outstanding refunds due to Benue at the time Ortom left office.

He further accused the current government of poor management of local government allocations, saying none of the 23 councils had executed tangible projects despite unprecedented inflows.

Akase maintained that Ortom had since moved on from office and continued to conduct himself with dignity as a statesman. He urged Governor Alia to focus on governance, transparency, and service delivery rather than “vilifying his predecessor at every opportunity.”

“Benue people elected him to govern, not to trade insults. The people deserve answers, not distractions,” Akase said.