By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state and his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom have engaged in a heated exchange over the fate of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Tersoo Kula had in a statement issued in Makurdi condemned what he termed “disappointing and misleading commentaries by some forumites” over Governor Hyacinth Alia’s honest moves to address the plight of IDPs in the state.

He pointed out that “to say the least, it reeks of a lack of goodwill toward the same people whose welfare the Governor works around the clock to safeguard. It also smacks of a convenient amnesia regarding the role the immediate past administration played in compounding the IDPs’ predicament.

“Governor Alia’s Durable Solutions drive is a forthright response to the failures of the previous government, which left IDPs languishing in squalor, with little to no hope of returning to their ancestral homelands. The hectares of fields cleared are for the temporary farmland for the IDPs, but not the site to move them. Nobody is building ‘resettlement structures’ on those lands.

“The essence of this initiative is to liberate these vulnerable people by giving them back their lives, their dignities. They will farm and earn legitimate income and raise funds that would prepare them for a final resettlement to their ancestral homes.

“Governor Alia has refused to ‘consolidate’ on a situation where the number of displaced persons in Benue quadrupled. Communities were abandoned to the mercy of armed herders, while resources meant for the welfare of these vulnerable people were squandered or used for political propaganda. Some of these commentators kept a tight lid on their lips at the time–they lost their voices.

“Governor Alia’s approach is rooted in a pragmatic and sustainable vision for the IDPs. His administration understands that true resettlement goes beyond empty rhetoric or political grandstanding. The Durable Solutions initiative is built on a foundation of dignity and security, ensuring that the IDPs are not just resettled but empowered to rebuild their lives.

“By providing better shelters, skills acquisition, and access to year-round farming, the Governor is laying the groundwork for a future where no Benue citizen will be left at the mercy of foreign monstrosities. The Governor’s commitment to returning IDPs to their ancestral lands has never wavered.

“However, such a process requires careful planning and robust security measures. It would be reckless and irresponsible to rush these vulnerable people back to unsafe areas where their lives would once again be endangered.

“This administration is actively working with security agencies to reclaim and secure these communities. Those desperate to criticize every step by Governor Alia’s administration should know better than to demand instant solutions to deep-rooted issues that were ignored for years by the previous government.

“What is most troubling about most of these commentaries is the lack of acknowledgment of the Governor’s goodwill toward the people of Benue. Rather than recognize the genuine efforts being made to uplift the IDPs, they choose to sow seeds of discord and disharmony.”

Continuing, he said “Governor Alia has declined to weaponize poverty, abandon local government structures, and leave our communities vulnerable to incessant attacks, as was the case in the recent past.

“Governor Alia is not only reversing these tragic legacies, but is also building a Benue that prioritizes security, development, and prosperity. He has restored autonomy to Local Government Areas, strengthened community structures, and partnered with international agencies to chart a fresh path for the state. These efforts deserve commendation not unwarranted criticism from those who stood by in silence during the years of neglect.

“The plight of the IDPs is not a matter to be politicized. It requires collective action, constructive dialogue, and genuine concern for the welfare of the people. Those attempting to undermine the Governor’s efforts raise questions about their goodwill toward the IDPs and Benue at large.

“Governor Alia remains resolute in his mission to deliver lasting solutions for the displaced and all citizens of Benue. His administration will not be distracted by naysayers but will continue to prioritize the safety, dignity, and development of every Benue citizen.”

But in a swift reaction, Media Aide to former Governor Ortom, Terver Akase decried and condemned the media outing of the Chief Press Secretary describing it as
“a fresh round of attack on the immediate past Governor and his administration, regarding the humanitarian crisis in the state.”

Akase pointed out that “instead of telling Benue people what the current administration is doing to curb insecurity and address the plight of IDPs in the state as Governor Alia promised, the press release departed from the core issues and delved into their usual blame game laced with trite narratives, all centred on what the previous administration did or didn’t do.

“It is important to remind Governor Alia of his promise to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes within his first 100 days in office. He gleefully made the unfortunate security situation in the state a major campaign issue before the 2023 elections, in addition to his numerous other promises.

“As the then gubernatorial candidate, Governor Alia is on record to have stated that the algorithms for tackling insecurity in Benue State were quite simple. He went on to assure the people that if elected, he would end insecurity in a very short time frame. He is also on record to have accused the then Governor, Chief Ortom of failing to handle the security situation properly and instead using it to gain political advantage.

“Our candid and free advice to Governor Alia is; now that he has realized that the algorithms for combating insecurity are not as simple as he thought, he should seek help by engaging those who have the knowledge in handling the situation. Security is everyone’s responsibility and the government cannot claim to have exclusive solutions.

“If the present administration is unable to utilize the huge federal allocations coming to the state to tackle insecurity, we urge Governor Alia to call a stakeholders’ meeting to assist him with advice on ways of dealing with the challenges at hand. Grandstanding in the media and constantly telling the rest of the country that there is relative peace in the state won’t solve the problems.

“The Alia administration ought to refrain from seeking scapegoats to blame. It should swallow its pride and embrace ideas on the best ways to address the security challenge. The people who are being attacked frequently with many of their loved ones killed and thousands of others rendered homeless are not interested in vain rhetoric. Many Benue communities are now inaccessible because bandits have taken over and the indigenous people have to seek permission from the herders to be able to visit their farms.

“With the volume of resources now available to the current administration – four times higher than what the previous government was receiving, as a result of fuel subsidy removal, it is expected that Governor Alia would get to work and be too busy to engage in trading excuses. The Governor and his team are quick to castigate the previous administration, but hastily recoil into silence whenever a question is asked on how he is managing resources of the state. There has been zero accountability since he took over on May 29, 2023!

“Lastly, it is pertinent to state that the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 which the present government has suspended was enacted on popular demand by the people. Governor Samuel Ortom was only doing the people’s bidding. Benue people demanded for a law to ban open grazing of livestock in the state and Governor Ortom obliged their demand by enacting the law.

“There is no point enumerating the indelible efforts of Governor Ortom made in addressing the security challenge that faced the state during his time in office because the records are there for all to see.

“If Governor Alia feels that his predecessor failed, that is why he (Alia) has the opportunity today as governor to fix what Chief Ortom couldn’t do. He should end the spate of insecurity as he said he would and fulfil other promises he made. Ortom is no longer the Governor.”