Ortom Slams Alia Over Benue Insecurity, Accuses Him of Playing Games with Lives
By IDNN Political Desk
Makurdi, Benue State — The war of words between former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom and incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia has escalated, with Ortom accusing his successor of mishandling the state’s deepening insecurity crisis and misleading the public with shifting narratives.
In a strongly worded statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom said the current administration has failed to protect the people from persistent attacks by armed herders and is more interested in downplaying casualties than solving the crisis.
“Governor Alia and his appointees are obsessed with Ortom,” Akase said. “They drag his name into everything while the state burns.”
IDPs, Casualties, and Data Distortions
The remarks followed recent counterclaims from the Alia administration denying that security agencies were underfunded and disputing the scale of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) crisis. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Tersoo Kula, had argued that Ortom’s era was marked by a higher number of IDPs and greater insecurity.
But Ortom’s camp pushed back, accusing the governor of manipulating figures and concealing the true extent of the current humanitarian tragedy.
“Alia claims less than 1.5 million IDPs now exist, but that figure was inherited from the Ortom administration,” Akase stated. “His government still uses the same data and structures we created.”
He warned that comparing death tolls as a political contest is both “morally bankrupt” and “dangerously deceptive.”
Tinubu’s Security Roadmap Ignored?
The former governor further criticized Alia for failing to act on a security roadmap presented by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit to the state.
“It’s been five days since President Tinubu gave specific recommendations to address the carnage in Benue. Not a single step has been taken,” Ortom alleged.
He cited a recent protest by IDPs at Makurdi International Market who abandoned their camp in frustration as evidence of the administration’s failure to deliver relief or restore safety.
Local Government Autonomy at the Heart of It
Akase accused the Alia government of centralizing power and funds, refusing to allow the 23 local government areas access to their constitutionally guaranteed allocations—even after the Supreme Court granted full financial autonomy to local governments.
“If Governor Alia is overwhelmed by the security crisis, he should admit it and call stakeholders to the table—as President Tinubu advised,” Akase said.
“Instead, he keeps blaming Fulani reprisal attacks, Abuja politicians, even religious leaders. It shows either he is clueless or deliberately misleading the public.”
