Ortom Slams Alia, Threatens To Expose Alleged Looting In Government

Former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has vowed to expose the rot in the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

According to reports, Ortom made the statement in response to allegations that his administration was unable to account for ₦139.8 billion during his eight-year tenure.

Speaking to reporters in an interactive session at his residence in Judges Quarters along Gboko Road in Makurdi, the state capital, Ortom said he would expose the hypocrisy and evil in Alia’s government.

“From today, I will be exposing this government (Alia administration) for its hypocrisy, outright looting of the state resources and evils committed against the people of the state and the ceding of our land to foreigners,” he said.

“There’s so much been said about me that’s not true. “Three years later, I decided that if I keep quiet, it will be an admission, so I have to defend myself and let the world know that what Alia is doing is pure persecution.”

Ortom however, challenged his successor to a public debate to compare their performances with the resources generated by each administration.

Ortom who spoke on his political differences with his former leader Senator George Akume called for unity and collaboration in the interest of Benue State and Nigeria.

Ortom on Tuesday openly declared that he regretted making that statement. This was in reference to a statement he made against Akume after winning his re-election in 2019 that he had “retired Akume politically”.

“Later in my prayers I came to realise that the remark was out of arrogance because I later acknowledged the fact that only God determines people’s destinies,” he said.

The former governor stated that he has since reconciled with Akume whom he described as his leader, adding that Akume still wields political influence and that he had decided to work with him through a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the “Benue project”, even though they belong to different political parties.

He said the current challenges facing Nigeria require leaders to rise above partisan politics and put national and state interests ahead of party interests.

Meanwhile, Alia responded to the ex-governor’s outburst by saying the former governor has left a heavy debt burden that was questionable.

The current governor, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said his administration was not out for vengeance against his predecessor.

“Handover notes are meant to be studied. When you study them and you find lapses and gaps, you are going to call in a legitimate authority to help you untangle the grey areas.

And that’s just what Governor Alia did. At any rate, this will not be the first time that a commission of inquiry will investigate the activities of a past administration. Ortom was one that investigated his predecessor, Sen. Gabriel Suswam.

“Ortom should tell Benue and Nigerians why he felt very comfortable to probe his predecessor but he is not comfortable that he should be probed.

Alia said his administration is still trying to salvage the rot left behind by Ortom’s administration.

“There is hardly a day passing without garnishee orders being issued in the state,” he said. Garnishees in the billions stare us in the face. “These are the results of careless handling of issues and outright disregard for procedure which was the hallmark of that notorious administration Benue people called ‘years of the locusts.’