Former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom says he will publicly expose what he describes as “rot and looting” linked to the current administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. Speaking at his residence in Makurdi, Ortom rejected a claim by a probe panel that his government failed to account for ₦139.8 billion over his eight-year tenure. He accused the Alia administration of hypocrisy and persecution and challenged Alia to a public debate comparing their respective records.
Ortom also revisited earlier political tensions, acknowledging regret for remarks he made in 2019 about “retiring” Senator George Akume. He said he has since reconciled with Akume and urged unity across party lines.
In response, Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said the state government is not targeting Ortom but is acting on issues raised in handover notes. Alia, through his spokesperson, accused Ortom’s tenure of leaving behind heavy debts and a legacy of mismanagement, and pointed to ongoing legal actions in the state as consequences of alleged procedural lapses during Ortom’s time in office. The exchanges reflect an intensifying political dispute in Benue over governance and financial oversight.
