Former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom says he will publicly expose what he describes as “rot and looting” in the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. Speaking at his Makurdi residence, Ortom reacts to claims by a probe panel that his government failed to account for ₦139.8 billion during his eight-year tenure. He dismisses the panel’s findings and accuses Alia of hypocrisy and persecution, saying his successor’s government is responsible for alleged mismanagement of state resources. Ortom also challenges Alia to a public debate on their records.
In response, Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary Kula Tersoo, says the government is not targeting Ortom, but is probing issues linked to handover notes. The government’s position is that Ortom left behind heavy debts and a legacy of mismanagement, which it says has contributed to ongoing garnishee orders in the state. The exchanges further widen an already tense relationship between the two leaders, as both sides trade allegations over governance and financial accountability in Benue.
