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Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has dismissed allegations by his predecessor, former Governor Samuel Ortom, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, that his administration was diverting or embezzling funds meant for local government councils.
The governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, described the allegation as “mere propaganda”, insisting that the administration was committed to strengthening the local government system and ensuring that councils deliver meaningful development to the people.
Kula, who stated this while briefing newsmen on Friday at Government House, Makurdi, was reacting to recent comments by Chief Ortom and Aondoakaa during a television programme.
According to him, the 23 local government councils in the state were autonomous, with their chairmen implementing projects in their respective areas.
He said the state government had adopted a collaborative approach with the councils, explaining that local governments contribute 40 per cent while the state government provides 60 per cent for some joint development projects, particularly roads and other public infrastructure.
Kula listed some of the projects to include the Oju-Konshisha road, Apa-Agatu-Gwer West road, Igumale-Agila road, Mbagwaza road in Ushongo LGA, Sankera-Chito-Vaase road and Adikpo-Koti-Vandeikya-Tse-Ke road, alongside interventions in healthcare and other social amenities.
He also cited projects in Guma LGA, the home council of former Governor Ortom, where he said the Chairman, Maurice Orwough, had constructed a 5km asphalt road in Udei and Umenger.
According to him, the Guma council chairman had also embarked on the renovation of the local government secretariat road in Gbajimba, with N4 billion earmarked for the project.
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In Katsina-Ala, Kula said the council chairman and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Justin Shaku, had contracted the construction of a 21km Yooyo road and renovated the council secretariat.
He added that the Ado LG Chairman, Sunday Oche, had earmarked N2.8 billion for road construction and committed another N1.2 billion as counterpart funding under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) to upgrade facilities and install solar-powered lights.
The CPS further pointed to what he described as “remarkable projects” in Otukpo and other local government areas as evidence that councils were receiving and utilising resources for development.
He said, “Governor Alia is not embezzling local government funds; rather, he is injecting funds into them. You can challenge the Governor on other fronts, but not on governance because he is keeping his covenant to the people.”
Mr Kula strongly opposed the political alliance between Ortom and Aondoakaa, describing the combination as “poison” capable of harming the state.
He alleged that Ortom was attempting to bring Aondoakaa into the governorship race “through the back door”, while accusing the former Attorney-General of the Federation of having a questionable record on justice during his tenure as Minister of Justice.
He urged the people of the state not to be misled by what he described as propaganda aimed at undermining the Alia administration, insisting that the governor remained focused on delivering development across the state.
