2027: Benue people will judge me by my achievements – Alia

14 Sep 2026, 05:21 by Winner James · Daily Post

The Benue State Government has said Governor Hyacinth Alia’s achievements in infrastructure, industrialisation, workers’ welfare and investment promotion will determine his fate at the 2027 governorship election.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, made the assertion in a statement while responding to recent criticisms from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and allies of former Governor Samuel Ortom.

Kula accused the opposition party of resorting to “tantrums, lies and political theatrics” after allegedly failing to present a convincing alternative to the Alia administration.

According to him, Governor Alia has remained focused on governance instead of engaging in political distractions.

“It is therefore the height of daydreaming and selective amnesia for the media consultant to Mike Aondoakaa, SAN, to imagine that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, which is busy rebuilding Benue through roads, industries, improved welfare for the workforce, care for senior citizens and billions of naira in investments, has time to engage a party bleeding from its own self-inflicted wounds and desperate to return to power to deepen the destruction from which the people rescued the state,” he said.

Kula said the administration had improved accountability and transparency in the state and restored Benue’s creditworthiness, creating what he described as a more favourable environment for investors.

He pointed to the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Hudson Global Ltd for a proposed $5 billion investment as evidence of growing investor confidence in Benue.

“The growing confidence in Benue’s economic prospects is not accidental. Just a few days ago, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hudson Global Ltd to attract a $5 billion investment aimed at transforming Benue’s economic landscape,” Kula said.

He also listed the construction of rural and urban roads, payment of salaries and gratuities, and the establishment of the Food Basket Bakery among the administration’s achievements.

Kula contrasted the current administration with the immediate past government, alleging that workers and pensioners experienced prolonged delays in the payment of their entitlements under Ortom.

“The state’s workforce was owed several months’ salaries, while pensioners were owed more than 70 months’ entitlements, including accumulated gratuities and other benefits,” he alleged.

The governor’s spokesman also questioned Ortom’s record on internally displaced persons, local government autonomy, public finances and security.

He alleged that Benue had already acquired the description of Nigeria’s “IDP capital” during the Ortom administration, with more than 1.5 million residents reportedly displaced.

Kula further questioned the political activities of the former governor, particularly his relationship with the APC and the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“Ortom, as a former governor of Benue State, was a key figure in the anti-party activities that contributed to the revolt by members and the eventual collapse of the PDP’s fortunes in 2023,” he said.

“He claimed to have supported Peter Obi after leading the factional G-5, and he still supports him today, while telling the world that he is behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Benue people are entitled to ask which of these positions represents his genuine political conviction.”

Reacting to Obi’s recent visit to Benue, Kula said the visit should not be presented solely as a humanitarian engagement because the former Anambra State governor reportedly arrived in campaign attire.

“The same question applies to Peter Obi’s recent visit to the state. Let it be on record that the NDC presidential candidate came to Benue fully dressed in campaign regalia, which makes the political dimension of the visit difficult to ignore,” he said.

On security, Kula defended Governor Alia against accusations that the administration had remained silent over the recent killings in Ayilamo, describing the allegation as an attempt to score political points.

“Securing lives and property has remained a top priority of the Gov. Alia-led government. For the PDP, through Terver Akase, to accuse the governor of being silent on the Ayilamo killings is cheap, unfair and nothing more than an attempt by a sinking party to manufacture excuses for its impending defeat in 2027,” he stated.

He also challenged former Governor Ortom and Aondoakaa to account for their records in public office rather than criticise the current administration.

Kula alleged that Ortom received N735 billion through bailouts, Paris Refunds and other inflows during his tenure, while leaving behind debts said to be above N300 billion and another N139 billion reportedly unaccounted for.

He said the claims should be addressed as part of the public accountability expected of former public officials.

Kula concluded that the 2027 election would ultimately be determined by voters and not political statements.

“Ultimately, 2027 will not be decided by press statements, political theatrics or partisan spin. It will be decided by the people at the ballot box.

On that day, the record of what has been achieved will speak louder than propaganda, because Benue has moved on from the agents of stagnation and is looking towards a future defined by development, investment and progress,” he said.

2027: Benue people will judge me by my achievements – Alia

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