Ortom accuses Gov Alia of running Benue with lies, hypocrisy

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of running the state on “lies, deceit and hypocrisy” and of systematically weakening the rule of law.

Speaking to Arise News about Benue politics ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Ortom said the administration had abandoned democratic norms during its first three years. He accused it of pursuing opponents, excluding stakeholders and ignoring judicial decisions.

“

What we are witnessing in the last three years and some months is that here is a government that doesn’t believe in the rule of law, but believes in witch hunting, believes in running opponents down.

Ortom cited a dispute over 23 official vehicles assigned to him and members of his former administration. He said the State Executive Council had approved the vehicles as used assets after more than four years of service, but that the government seized them without prior notice. Ortom said he took the matter to court and won. According to him, the court ordered the vehicles returned and awarded him ₦5 million in damages, but the vehicles have still not been handed back and the governor has not appealed.

“

No single person can say that I was healed by Alia’s ministry.

He also alleged that Alia instructed traditional rulers not to receive him during a recent visit to his kinsmen, where he intended to discuss his wife’s senatorial ambition. Ortom said the administration had not held stakeholder meetings across party lines since taking office. He further argued that local government autonomy existed only on paper because council chairmen could not independently implement projects or properly account for their activities.

Ortom contrasted Alia’s pre-election image as a healing priest with his record in office. “No single person can say that I was healed by Alia’s ministry,” he said, adding that Benue residents had been deceived by the gap between campaign promises and reality.

“

Our governor has refused to summon that meeting. He doesn’t listen to anybody. He says he’s an independent person, so it is what he wants that he does.

On security, Ortom said President Bola Tinubu directed Alia, after visiting the site of the Yelewata massacre, to convene former governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders. He said that meeting had never taken place. Ortom also said he met Alia before the governor’s inauguration, provided handover notes and offered continued support, but had been unable to reach him since. “Since that meeting till today, the man hasn’t picked my call,” he said.

“

Since that meeting till today, the man hasn’t picked my call.