Governor Alia denies claims of collusion with Fulani leaders to raise N300bn

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has firmly rejected allegations that he is collaborating with Fulani leaders to raise N300 billion for an alleged image-laundering campaign abroad.

Governor Alia described the claims, attributed to Dennis Agema and Oliver Omenka, as baseless, reckless, and intended to stir ethnic divisions and derail his administration’s efforts to secure and rebuild Benue State.

The accusations were made by a group calling itself the Network for Transparency Governance (NTG), which alleged that Governor Alia, along with unnamed Fulani collaborators, had raised the large sum to improve his international reputation, particularly during his recent visit to the United States.

In response, Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, dismissed the report as a “disgraceful tissue of lies,” created to divert attention from the Governor’s achievements. He emphasized that there was no N300 billion campaign or image-laundering plot, and certainly no conspiracy with any ethnic group or individuals, including Fulani leaders.

Kula clarified that Governor Alia’s visit to the U.S. was a legitimate academic engagement. He had been invited by the Department of African and African-American Studies at Harvard University to speak on “Democracy and Economic Growth in Nigeria.” Kula also explained that the trip provided the Governor with opportunities for diplomatic dialogues aimed at attracting investments, forging partnerships, and highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis and security challenges in Benue.

“Governor Alia is a dedicated servant-leader and a priest of integrity, committed to the well-being and dignity of the Benue people,” Kula stated. “The false claims of a fundraising scheme are part of a calculated campaign by disgruntled political figures who cannot tolerate the Governor’s growing profile and his steady leadership.”

The government condemned the allegations as “ludicrous” and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the Governor’s reputation. Kula further pointed out that the Alia administration has made significant strides in tackling insecurity, including facilitating the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and strengthening local security structures.