 in Benue State has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of launching personal attacks){kind=link}
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of launching personal attacks on former Governor Samuel Ortom to divert public attention from growing concerns over his administration’s management of state finances and the recently approved N100 billion loan.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by Terver Akase, Media Adviser to Chief Ortom, the opposition party said Governor Alia’s constant criticism of his predecessor was a calculated attempt to evade scrutiny and mislead the public.
According to Akase, the governor’s latest remarks against Ortom “reflect a disturbing pattern of diversionary politics,” noting that each time questions are raised about transparency or accountability, the Alia administration “resorts to name-calling rather than presenting facts.”
“Every time Governor Alia is confronted with issues of governance, his first instinct is to attack Chief Ortom instead of explaining how state funds are being spent,” Akase said. “This behaviour clearly shows a government that fears accountability.”
The PDP expressed dismay that, despite what it described as “record-breaking federal allocations” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Governor Alia has opted to borrow heavily rather than utilise available resources to clear salary arrears and execute meaningful projects.
The statement also recalled that during President Tinubu’s visit to Benue in June, he publicly declared that states were receiving enough funds to meet their obligations without taking loans, a position that, according to the PDP, contradicts Alia’s justification for borrowing N100 billion.
Akase further alleged irregularities in the awarding of contracts under the current government, citing the N68.3 billion road project from Wurukum Roundabout to the Air Force Base in Makurdi and another N73 billion project allegedly leading to the governor’s village in Vandeikya.
“Benue people are asking legitimate questions about how their money is being used, but instead of answers, they get propaganda and distractions,” he stated.
The former governor’s aide insisted that Ortom left behind detailed records of all financial transactions, projects, and pending approvals for federal refunds.
He challenged the Alia administration to release the official handover documents if it disputes those claims.
Akase also accused the governor of providing conflicting debt figures, claiming that the administration’s report of spending N7.4 billion monthly on debt servicing “defies logic” since it exceeds the total debt the state claims to owe.
The PDP maintained that local government councils have been “grossly underperforming” since Alia assumed office, alleging that none of the 23 councils has executed any visible project despite increased federal allocations.
“The issue is simple,” Akase added. “The people of Benue deserve transparency. Governor Alia must explain why his administration is taking another huge loan barely a year in office instead of engaging in blame games.”
He concluded that Chief Ortom “has moved on from politics of bitterness” and continues to conduct himself as a statesman, urging the governor to focus on governance rather than political vendetta.