Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has advised his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to stop using him as a scapegoat for the state’s ongoing insecurity and humanitarian crises, claiming that obsessing over his name will not stop the killings.
Ortom, in a statement made on his behalf by his former Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase on Sunday, expressed dissatisfaction that the Alia-led administration continues to deflect from its obligations by blaming previous leadership.
Ortom is responding to Governor Alia’s recent statements that Benue had over four million internally displaced people during Ortom’s term, a charge the former governor calls inaccurate and diversionary.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia said: “Under Ortom’s watch, Benue State recorded the highest number of IDPs in its history, with over four million people displaced from their ancestral homes.” This figure demonstrates the futility of reactive rhetoric without strategic support for security architecture.”
Akase responded by questioning the data and the governor’s priorities.
“At no point did Chief Ortom declare that there were four million IDPs. The administration collaborated with renowned humanitarian organizations to produce accurate and reliable data. The 1.5 million figure was legally documented, and it is the same amount that Governor Alia inherited, accepted, and provided to partners,” he said.
Akase further accused the Alia government of constantly turning every issue into an attack on Ortom.
“Since he took office, Governor Alia and his aides have made it their mission to pull Ortom’s name into every issue, no matter how pertinent. “This obsession will not solve the state’s crisis,” Akase stated.
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He questioned the government’s handling of the latest IDP protest in the Makurdi International Market camp, where displaced people claimed they felt abandoned.
“While IDPs were protesting hunger and maltreatment, SEMA’s Executive Secretary was spotted visiting a sumptuous wedding in the United Kingdom. We expected a press release to address the terrible lack of sensitivity. Instead, we got another attack on Ortom,” he added.
Akase advised the governor to adopt the security blueprint proposed by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit to the state, noting that the time for excuses had passed.
“Mr. President took practical actions to combat insecurity in Benue. Rather than acting, Governor Alia continues to make excuses — one day accusing foreign mercenaries, the next ‘Abuja politicians,’ and now even religious leaders,” he claimed.
