Benue govt rejects Ortom’s debate challenge, defends ongoing probe

The Benue State Government has dismissed former Governor Samuel Ortom’s call for a public debate with Governor Hyacinth Alia, describing the challenge as an attempt to divert attention from ongoing investigations into his administration.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, the government said Alia remains focused on governance and service delivery rather than engaging in what it termed “media trials” and political distractions.

The statement maintained that the current administration’s review of Ortom’s handover notes uncovered significant financial discrepancies and administrative lapses, prompting the involvement of relevant authorities to investigate the issues.

According to the government, it was ironic that Ortom, who established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the administration of his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, now opposes similar scrutiny of his own tenure.

The government also rejected claims that the probe process was unfair, insisting that Ortom, his former appointees, and media aides were invited on multiple occasions and given opportunities to present their cases before the commission.

Highlighting the challenges inherited by the Alia administration, the government said it took over a state grappling with seven months of unpaid salaries for civil servants, 11 months of salary arrears for local government workers and teachers, over 76 months of unpaid pensions and gratuities, as well as substantial debt obligations.

The statement further accused the previous administration of relying heavily on propaganda rather than effective governance, while criticising Ortom’s recent comments on state finances.

Responding to Ortom’s remarks regarding ₦1.3 trillion in government spending, the administration argued that economic realities such as inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising construction costs must be considered when comparing expenditures across different periods.

The government also stated that it is currently settling billions of naira in garnishee orders, which it attributed to decisions taken during the previous administration.

Defending Governor Alia’s performance, the statement listed several projects undertaken by the administration, including the revitalisation of the Benue Fruit Juice Company, the establishment of a Fashion Hub, the commencement of production at the Food Basket Brewery, the completion of major interchanges in Gboko and Makurdi, and erosion control projects within the state capital.

The government maintained that Governor Alia would not be drawn into a public debate with his predecessor, insisting that his administration’s achievements and ongoing projects remain the best response to criticism.