, has expressed disappointment over recent comments made by Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, against former Governor Samuel Ortom.){kind=link}
The Network for Transparent Governance (NTG), has expressed disappointment over recent comments made by Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, against former Governor Samuel Ortom.
In a statement signed by its President, Dennis Agema, and Secretary General, Oliver Omenka, the NTG condemned the remarks as “unwarranted and scathing,” describing them as a distraction from the pressing needs of Benue State.
The NTG noted that Chief Samuel Ortom, a two-term governor, made immense contributions to the development of Benue State, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Ortom’s presence at the 50th birthday celebration of Dr. Matthias Byuan, a senior official at the Federal Housing Authority, was cited as evidence of his commitment to fostering relationships across political divides.
“Governor Alia’s attempt to diminish Ortom’s achievements is disgraceful,” the statement read.
“Comparing Alia’s construction of 16 short streets totaling 15 kilometers to Ortom’s far-reaching road projects is laughable. Furthermore, Alia’s performance in education and healthcare does not come close to Ortom’s outstanding legacy.”
The NTG also criticized Governor Alia’s emphasis on paying salaries and pensions, describing it as a basic expectation of governance, not an extraordinary feat.
“There is no governor in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration who is owing salaries or pensions. Alia’s silence on the state’s finances, including the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, raises concerns about transparency,” the group said.
The statement accused Governor Alia of resorting to political vendettas rather than focusing on critical governance issues, such as addressing insecurity in Benue State.
“Hundreds of lives have been lost to attacks by Fulani herders, yet the administration chooses to engage in petty political battles instead of tackling these challenges,” the NTG added.
The group called on Governor Alia to stop his “unfounded assaults” on Chief Ortom and to prioritize the well-being of Benue citizens.
“The politics of victimization and division serve no one. It is time for Governor Alia to rise above pettiness and embrace a constructive approach to governance,” the NTG urged.
The NTG reaffirmed its support for Chief Ortom, encouraging Benue residents to stand behind leaders who have consistently championed their interests.