Mr Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, says the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, is envious of Alia’s achievements, particularly in the area of security.
Kula, in a statement on Tuesday in Makurdi, said Alia’s commitment to peaceful and secure Benue was often spitefully mischaracterised by his critics, particularly his predecessor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ortom, in a statement on Monday signed by his media aide, Mr Terver Akase, accused Alia of playing politics with insecurity.
The former governor stated that the difference between him and Alia was that while he stood against injustice and strongly fought the agenda of pastoralists who wanted to occupy Benue lands as theirs, his successor does not want the world to know the truth.
But reacting to the statement, Kula said Alia never said there was absolute peace in Benue but rather stated that the security situation improved significantly since he became governor.
The CPS pointed out that it was a statement of fact that attacks on innocent farmers and citizens reduced significantly since the inception of Alia’s administration.
He emphasised that under Alia, daily mass killings have significantly diminished, allowing residents to feel safer in their communities.
“Gov. Alia has never said there is absolute peace in Benue. He has been consistent that relative peace has returned in the state under his watch.
“And it is important for Ortom and his co-travellers to understand the distinction between relative peace and absolute peace.
“While absolute peace may be unattainable, especially as it entails the state or country being completely free of security challenges, the relative peace currently being experienced in Benue is significant,” he said.
The CPS said people who hitherto could not access their ancestral homes now go there to farm, adding that some have even returned and settled back home.
He added that markets that were once closed because of insecurity were now thriving again.
“In Guma Local Government Area (LGA), where Ortom hails from, local markets like Kaseyo, Ortese, Gbajimba, Daudu, etc. have reopened, showcasing a resurgence in commerce and a return to normalcy.
“This economic revival is a testament to improved security and governmental effectiveness.
“Alia has effectively reduced the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state. And while his predecessor claimed there were four million IDPs, recent profiling shows fewer than one million remain in camps.
“This exodus from IDP camps shows that many families have returned to their ancestral homes, further signifying a return to stability.
“The resurgence of agricultural activities in Mbagwen and Isherev districts in Makurdi and surrounding areas underscores the positive impact of the current administration’s efforts to restore peace and confidence,” he said.
Kula admitted that while there are still security challenges in some parts of the state, Alia was actively working to address these issues.
He said the governor’s approach was constructive and focused on problem-solving rather than engaging in political grandstanding or fearmongering.
“Governor Alia is taking a quiet but effective approach to tackling insecurity in Benue. He is working diligently to eliminate the rate of insecurity, and for that, he deserves commendation rather than vituperations.
“It does not surprise us that the diatribe is coming from the people who instigated all the security challenges, which Gov.
“Alia is committed to finding solutions rather than just talking about the problems.
“Alia’s actions so far only demonstrate a genuine commitment to improving security and fostering a peaceful environment in Benue. He deserves support rather than unfounded accusations or politicisation of the situation.
“And the last person to criticise the governor in this regard should be Ortom,” he said.
