“Benue is drifting” – Gov Alia’s kinsmen vow to oppose his 2027 re-election bid
Kinsmen of Governor Hyacinth Alia from the Kunav bloc of Vandeikya native authorities space of Benue state have declared that they’ll oppose his re-election bid within the 2027 governorship election.
The group, made up of six governorship aspirants drawn from totally different political events, introduced the choice at a joint press convention held in Makurdi on the weekend.
The press convention was titled “Benue at 50: reflection, accountability and the longer term we should reclaim”.
Addressing journalists, Dennis Ityavyar, Joseph Waya, Paul Angya, Terhemba Shija, Dominic Terkaa Ucha and Godwin Ityoachimin stated Benue was drifting regardless of its 50 years of statehood.
They stated the state of affairs was unacceptable given what they described as vital {financial} inflows and the constitutional powers vested within the state authorities.
The aspirants cited persistent assaults on communities, irregular cost of salaries, decaying infrastructure and weak institutional capability as proof of management failure.
They stated Benue generated about ₦20.43 billion as internally generated income in 2024, representing about 0.56 p.c of whole subnational income.
The group argued that the determine falls in need of the state’s agricultural potential.
Additionally they alleged that though Benue obtained over ₦400 billion from the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) inside the identical interval, many ministries, departments and businesses remained underfunded.
The aspirants stated transparency in public finance administration below the present administration was weak and expressed concern over worsening insecurity within the state.
They cited an assault on Abande group market in Mbaikyor ward of Kwande native authorities space final Wednesday, the place no less than 17 folks, together with a cell police officer, had been reportedly killed.
The group stated repeated assaults in Guma, Brand, Ukum, Apa, Makurdi and Kwande native authorities areass, in addition to the rising variety of internally displaced individuals, present the necessity for extra proactive management.
Responding, Tersoo Kula, spokesman to the governor, dismissed the press convention as politically motivated.
Kula described the allegations as deceptive and malicious, including that the Alia administration has applied reforms in public finance administration, civil service effectivity, safety coordination and infrastructure growth.
Kula stated the federal government has blocked income leakages, curbed payroll fraud and revived deserted tasks.
He added that the administration has invested in agro-industrial initiatives, training and community-based safety efforts.
Kula urged critics to have interaction constructively relatively than politicise insecurity and humanitarian challenges within the state.