From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Former Benue State Governor Chief Samuel Ortom has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of bandying fake figures to discredit his administration.
The ex Governor in a press statement on Tuesday signed by his former media aide Terver Akase was reacting to claims by Governor Alia during his thank you in Okpoga, Okpokwu local government area that he inherited over 359 billion in salary arrears from his predecessor.
Akase averred that going by Governor Alia’s claim, the unfounded impression created is that the past administration of Governor Ortom did not pay salaries for five years (60)month, questioning “how possible is this? Even as he described the narrative as not only ridiculously fictitious but also a deliberate flimflam to mislead the people.
He said the same government told the people via a statement by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary in June 2023 that Governor Ortom handed N187.56 billion to them as debt, which was the same amount the former Governor mentioned while presenting handover notes to his successor on May 28, 2023, to which the former Governor gave a detailed presentation in his handover notes on the efforts his administration had made to reduce the debt to the barest.
“What the present government is saying about the state debt now is contradictory and politically motivated.
“The Alia administration appears to be obsessed with the name Samuel Ortom, as they miss no opportunity to throw darts at the immediate past Governor branding him with all manner of negative hues. It is puzzling that Chief Ortom left office more than a year ago but his successor and his team can’t get off his back. This is despite the reluctance of the former Governor to engage in a media war with his successor.
“Governor Alia and his men seem to forget that the campaign period is over and they are now in government to serve. The people who voted for His Excellency Governor Alia won’t ask for a scorecard titled ‘Samuel Ortom’ at the end of the day. “
