By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed allegations of political vendetta against his predecessor, Samuel Ortom, insisting that the ongoing probe of the previous administration is solely aimed at uncovering alleged financial irregularities.
The governor’s reaction followed claims by Ortom during a press conference in Makurdi on Tuesday that the investigation was a campaign of blackmail and persecution.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, Alia maintained that setting up investigative panels to examine the finances of past administrations is a legitimate and established practice in governance.
According to him, Ortom himself constituted a probe panel to investigate his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, and therefore has no moral basis to oppose a similar process.
“The essence of studying handover notes is to identify gaps and, where necessary, invite legitimate authorities to unravel grey areas. That is exactly what this administration has done,” the statement said.
Alia questioned why Ortom was comfortable probing a former governor during his tenure but now appears uncomfortable being subjected to a similar scrutiny.
The governor further alleged that Ortom approached the courts in a bid to halt the probe, noting that the commission which submitted the report is different from the one earlier challenged in court.
He stated that evidence showed that Ortom was invited on several occasions to appear before the panel and defend himself but instead sent his lawyers.
The governor added that some of Ortom’s former appointees, including ex-Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Terver Akase, appeared before the commission and were given fair hearing.
Alia also painted a grim picture of the state he inherited, claiming that his administration met seven months of unpaid salaries for state workers, 11 months of unpaid salaries for local government workers and teachers, as well as huge outstanding gratuities and debts.
“No person with conscience would have ignored the mess we met on the ground,” the statement said, accusing the previous administration of running the government on “propaganda and deceptive narratives.”
The governor also faulted Ortom’s criticisms of his administration’s expenditure profile, arguing that current economic realities, including rising fuel prices, exchange rates and construction costs, have significantly altered the cost of governance.
He further lamented the growing number of garnishee orders against the state government, describing them as the consequences of what he termed the previous administration’s “shoddy handling of issues and blatant disregard for due process.”
The latest exchange deepens the rift between the two leaders, following the report of the state’s Income and Expenditure Commission, which reportedly accused the Ortom administration of failing to account for about N139 billion during its eight-year tenure.
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