Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has told his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to stop using him as a scapegoat for the persistent insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the state, saying that obsession with his name will not end the killings.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his former Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, on Sunday, Ortom expressed disappointment that the Alia-led administration continues to deflect from its responsibilities by blaming past leadership.
Ortom reacting to Governor Alia’s recent comments that under Ortom’s tenure, Benue recorded over four million internally displaced persons, a claim the former governor says is both false and diversionary.
Governor Alia, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, had 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 underscores the failure of reactive rhetoric without strategic support for security architecture.”
Responding, Akase challenged the figures and questioned the governor’s priorities.
“At no time did Chief Ortom claim there were four million IDPs. The administration worked with reputable humanitarian agencies to generate accurate, verifiable data. The 1.5 million figure was officially documented and is the same figure Governor Alia inherited, accepted, and presented to partners,” he stated.
Akase further accused the Alia administration of consistently turning every issue into an attack on Ortom.
“From the day he assumed office, Governor Alia and his aides have made it their mission to drag Ortom’s name into every matter, whether relevant or not. This obsession won’t solve the crisis in the state,” Akase said.
He criticized the government’s handling of the recent protest by IDPs at the Makurdi International Market camp, where displaced persons said they felt abandoned.
“While IDPs were protesting hunger and neglect, the Executive Secretary of SEMA was seen attending a lavish wedding in the United Kingdom. We expected a press release that would address that shameful insensitivity. Instead, what we got was yet another attack on Ortom,” he noted.
Akase advised the governor to implement the security roadmap recommended by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit to the state, adding that the time for excuses had passed.
“Mr. President gave practical steps to address insecurity in Benue. Rather than act, Governor Alia keeps spinning excuses — one day blaming foreign mercenaries, the next day it’s ‘Abuja politicians,’ and now even religious leaders,” he said.