How governor Alia transformed Benue in 2 years – Francis Ottah

Former House of Representatives member and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Francis Ottah Agbo, has weighed in on the growing political tension in Benue State, firmly rejecting claims of a leadership crisis.

Speaking on Sunday during an interview with TCV Politics, Ottah denounced speculations that there are “two governors” in the state, calling it a fabrication designed to stir division.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia is the sitting governor of Benue State. There are no two governors,” Ottah asserted.

He criticized what he described as “hangers-on” individuals, who he said are manufacturing crises and spreading falsehoods to curry favor with political power brokers.

“These hangers-on, supporters who thrive on manufactured crises, are exploiting the situation. They’re spreading rumours, perhaps to endear themselves to powerful individuals,” Ottah said.

Recalling the tenures of former governors George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, Ottah noted that each had full control of the state’s leadership during their time.

“Now, Governor Alia is the man in charge. He’s not just in government; he is in power,” he emphasized.

Ottah revealed that he has personally confronted some of the young agitators he claims are fueling the unrest and accused them of pushing propaganda against Governor Alia.

He also pushed back against narratives suggesting that Governor Alia is not the leader of the APC in Benue, stating that by party norms, the sitting governor automatically assumes that role.

The APC chieftain expressed concern that recent attacks by armed militias in Akawe are distracting from governance and urged that Governor Alia be allowed to focus on his work.

Responding to calls for the National Assembly to intervene in Benue’s affairs, Ottah cited legal opinions, including those of Femi Falana (SAN), insisting that the legislature has no constitutional right to interfere in the functioning of a state governor or its assembly.

“The National Assembly has no jurisdiction over a state governor or the state assembly. They are co-equal in structure,” Ottah said.

He described the recent protest organized by the “Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law” as a farce, alleging that the organizers were underqualified law students acting on behalf of political interests.

“Only in extreme circumstances, such as war or total legislative collapse, can the National Assembly intervene—and even then, only temporarily,” he concluded.