Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The political landscape of Benue State erupted in fresh hostilities on Tuesday as former Governor Samuel Ortom launched a blistering counter-offensive against his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, vowing to expose what he described as "hypocrisy, outright looting of state resources, evils against the people, and the ceding of our land to foreigners". The declaration came barely 24 hours after a probe panel set up by Alia's administration indicted Ortom's eight-year tenure for failing to account for N139.8 billion in public funds. Speaking during an interactive session with journalists at his palatial residence in Makurdi, Ortom declared an end to his three-year silence, warning that the current administration would no longer enjoy his restraint.
The former governor, who governed Benue from 2015 to 2023, dismissed the findings of the Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Justice Jubril Idrisu, as a "politically motivated witch-hunt" orchestrated to tarnish his reputation. He challenged Alia to a public debate where both leaders could compare their achievements based on the resources available to their respective administrations. "So many lies have been said against me. After three years, I concluded that if I remained silent, it would amount to admission. What Alia is doing is pure persecution," Ortom declared.
Ortom insisted that he had nothing to hide and was ready to present records of revenues, expenditures, inherited liabilities, and contractual obligations in a face-to-face encounter with the governor. He rejected claims that his administration left behind debts exceeding N300 billion, describing the allegation as "a lie from the pit of hell". He also dismissed suggestions linking him to a major ethanol processing plant in the state, insisting he neither owns shares nor controls its operations. The former governor further cited infrastructure projects, healthcare investments, agricultural interventions, and security measures as hallmarks of his tenure, while alleging that the current administration had borrowed substantial funds despite receiving significantly higher federal allocations than previous governments.
In a dramatic twist, Ortom also reflected on his fractured relationship with former Benue governor and current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Recalling his 2019 declaration that he had "retired Akume politically," Ortom openly admitted regret, describing the comment as arrogant. He disclosed that he had since reconciled with Akume, whom he now describes as his political leader, and that both were working together through a strategic partnership to advance the "Benue project" despite belonging to different political parties. Ortom argued that Nigeria's current challenges require leaders to rise above partisan politics and prioritise national and state interests.
Governor Alia, however, dismissed his predecessor's outburst with characteristic defiance. Through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor told Ortom to "shut up and speak the truth for once". Kula challenged Ortom's understanding of economic realities, asking: "How much was a litre of fuel when he was governor and how much is it now? How much was a bag of cement and how much is it now? How much was a kilometre of road and how much was it then? How much was the dollar exchanging for the naira and how much is it now?".
Alia's administration maintained that the probe was not driven by vendetta but by a genuine desire to establish the facts and unravel financial irregularities inherited from the previous government. Kula pointed out that Ortom himself had established a commission of inquiry to investigate the administration of his predecessor, Senator Gabriel Suswam. "Ortom needs to tell Benue and Nigerians why he felt very comfortable probing his predecessor but is not comfortable that he should be probed," Kula said. He further accused Ortom of leaving behind a staggering debt burden, noting that the state faces multiple garnishee orders running into billions of naira as a result of "shoddy handling of issues and blatant disregard for procedure".
The Alia administration also alleged that Ortom's eight-year rule was "run largely on propaganda, from pretentious sobbing in churches to deceptive public statements". The commission's report had indicated that Benue State generated over N826.5 billion in revenue during Ortom's tenure, while expenditure stood at approximately N683.4 billion, leaving a significant gap that the commission deemed unaccounted for. Alia's spokesman insisted that accountability was not a witch-hunt but "a fundamental pillar of democratic governance", adding: "Those who once demanded it from others should not object when it is demanded of them".
The latest exchange marks another explosive chapter in the prolonged political feud between the two leaders, who have repeatedly traded accusations over governance, performance, and the management of state resources. With Ortom vowing to expose the "rot" in the current administration and Alia standing firm on his probe, the battle lines are clearly drawn. As the August 15 governorship election in neighbouring Osun State draws near and the 2027 general elections loom, the Benue crisis is likely to resonate far beyond the state's borders—a stark reminder of the high stakes and deep divisions that continue to define Nigeria's political landscape.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments