Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has called on his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to cease using him as a scapegoat for the ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the state.
Ortom warned that fixating on his name will not end the violence.
In a statement released on Sunday through his former Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom expressed disappointment over the Alia administration’s tendency to deflect responsibility by blaming previous leadership.
The former governor was responding to recent comments from Governor Alia, who claimed that over four million internally displaced persons were recorded under Ortom’s tenure—a figure Ortom dismissed as false and misleading.
Governor Alia, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, 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.”
In rebuttal, Akase challenged the accuracy of the figure and questioned the governor’s focus. “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 said.
Akase further accused the Alia government of making Ortom’s name a target in every issue, whether relevant or not. “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 stated.
He also criticized the handling of a recent protest by IDPs at the Makurdi International Market camp, where displaced persons voiced feelings of abandonment. “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,” Akase noted.
Advising Governor Alia, Akase urged swift implementation of the security roadmap outlined by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit to Benue. “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 added.
