The Benue State Government and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have traded words over the governance of the state under Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The PDP alleged that Governor Alia was running the state like a “Church Parish,” undermining democratic principles and disregarding transparency and accountability.
In a statement, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, accused the Alia administration of prioritizing “white elephant projects” over critical issues like infrastructure decay, lack of basic services, and erosion of public trust. The PDP also demanded that the Governor clear the backlog of salary arrears, pensions, and gratuities.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, swiftly responded, labeling the PDP’s allegations as “grossly misguided” and “devoid of substance and factual accuracy.” Kula argued that the PDP lacks a clear understanding of democratic principles, given their past record of governance.
Governor Alia’s administration highlighted its achievements, including the provision of food security, creation of employment opportunities, and reforms in critical sectors. The administration also emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability, citing Benue’s rise to 9th place in the fiscal transparency league for 2024.
The war of words between the PDP and Governor Alia’s administration has brought to the fore the deep-seated political divisions in Benue State.
