The transition committee of the Benue State Governor-elect, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has expressed concern over the delay in the release of handover reports by the Samuel Ortom-led transition committee. In response, Governor Ortom’s committee has accused the incoming committee of making unconstitutional demands.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Governor-elect’s committee, Chief Mike Iordye and Dan Ashiekaa respectively, the State Government had constituted a transition committee on March 22, 2023, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Tony Ijohor (SAN), with all members of the State Executive Council as members and the Director of the EXCO, Mr. Bartholomew Aondoaver Ageraga, as Secretary. The statement expressed concern over the lackadaisical attention given to the matter by the outgoing administration, calling for comprehensive handover notes covering the period of the outgoing administration (2015-2023) for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the debt profile and state finances.
However, Governor Ortom’s committee, headed by Secretary to the State Government Anthony Ijohir SAN, has disputed the claims, stating that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not provide for a parallel government in any state, and that Governor Ortom remains the Governor of the State till May 29, 2023.
They further noted that the incoming committee’s demands were unconstitutional and an aberration, and that they expect the team of the incoming Governor to cooperate with the outgoing administration for a smooth transition of power