Alia Blasts Ortom, Aondoakaa: Your Alliance Is ‘Poison’ to Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has launched a blistering attack on former Governor Samuel Ortom and former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, describing their emerging political alliance as a “poison” capable of destroying the state.

The governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, also dismissed allegations by the two former public officers that his administration was diverting or embezzling funds meant for the 23 local government areas of the state.

Tersoo, who spoke on Friday during a press briefing at the Government House, Makurdi, described the allegations as “mere propaganda,” insisting that Governor Alia had instead strengthened the local government system by supporting councils to execute development projects.

He said the allegation that the governor had taken control of the finances of the local government councils was baseless, stressing that the councils remained autonomous and were currently implementing projects with the support of the state government.

According to him, the state government and the councils had adopted a joint funding arrangement for major projects, with the local governments contributing 40 per cent and the state government providing 60 per cent.

Tersoo listed the Oju-Konshisha Road, Apa-Agatu-Gwer West Road, Igumale-Agila Road, Mbagwaza Road in Ushongo, Sankera-Chito-Vaase Road and Adikpo-Koti-Vandeikya-Tseen Ke Road among projects receiving attention under the arrangement.

He said the intervention also covered healthcare and other social amenities, adding that the projects were evidence that the Alia administration was committed to grassroots development rather than the alleged diversion of council resources.

The CPS specifically cited projects in Guma Local Government Area, the home local government of former Governor Ortom, saying the council chairman, Orwough, had constructed a five-kilometre asphalt road in Udei and Umenger, while the secretariat road in Gbajimba was also renovated, with N4 billion earmarked for the project.

In Katsina-Ala, Tersoo said the council chairman and ALGON chairman, Justine Shaku, had contracted the construction of the 21-kilometre Yooyo Road and renovated the local government secretariat.

He added that the Ado Local Government chairman, Sunday Oche, had earmarked N2.8 billion for road construction, alongside N1.2 billion counterpart funding under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project for upgrading facilities and installing solar-powered streetlights, while Otukpo had also recorded notable interventions.

“Governor Alia is not embezzling local government funds; rather, he is injecting funds into them,” Tersoo declared.

“You can challenge the governor on other fronts, but not on governance because he is keeping his covenant to the people,” he added.

Turning to the political relationship between Ortom and Aondoakaa, the governor’s spokesman described the duo’s combination as “poison” for Benue, alleging that the former governor was attempting to bring Aondoakaa into the political leadership of the state through what he called the “back door.”

Tersoo further accused Aondoakaa of compromising justice during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, alleging that he had previously subverted justice and therefore could not be trusted with the patrimony of Benue.

He urged the people of the state not to be deceived by what he described as propaganda and attempts to de-market the Alia administration, maintaining that the governor remained focused on governance, infrastructure and improving the welfare of Benue residents.