By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
The Media Consultant to former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, Dr Terver Akase, has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of resorting to attacks on his political opponents out of fear of defeat in the 2027 governorship election.
Akase said the continued attacks on Ortom and Aondoakaa by the Alia administration could not conceal what he described as the governor’s failures in office.
He made the remarks on Saturday while briefing journalists in Makurdi in reaction to a press briefing by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, in which the former governor and the PDP governorship candidate were allegedly attacked.
Akase described the attacks as “desperate and vitriolic,” alleging that the administration was attempting to divert public attention from growing concerns over the alleged treatment of former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his recent humanitarian visit to Benue.
He alleged that rather than address reports that political loyalists linked to the ruling establishment obstructed Obi’s movement into Makurdi while he was visiting internally displaced persons (IDPs), the governor’s media aides had resorted to insults, alleged fabrications and political mudslinging.
According to him, the approach amounted to “the oldest trick in the book: when confronted with failure, manufacture enemies and change the subject.”
Akase said the governor’s spokesman devoted considerable attention to attacking Ortom and Aondoakaa but failed to address what he described as the central issue confronting the administration — accountability.
He argued that Governor Alia had enjoyed increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since assuming office in 2023, particularly following the removal of the fuel subsidy, and challenged the administration to account for the resources received.
“Since assuming office in 2023, Governor Alia has enjoyed unprecedented financial inflows from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), following the removal of fuel subsidy, yet neither he nor his aides have provided Benue people with a comprehensive account of how those enormous resources have been utilised,” he said.
Akase asked the government to disclose how much it had received since 2023, the projects executed with the funds and why, according to him, many local government areas remained without visible government presence.
He further criticised the administration over the recent attack on Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area, where several people, including security personnel, were reportedly killed.
Akase alleged that while the governor’s spokesman was attacking political opponents, the Ayilamo community was facing a security crisis.
He said the alleged absence of sympathy or concern for the victims during the press briefing reflected what he described as the administration’s misplaced priorities.
On allegations that Ortom was secretly supporting Peter Obi while publicly backing President Bola Tinubu, Akase dismissed the claim as contradictory and maintained that the former governor had been open about his political positions.
He said Ortom supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election and later publicly declared support for Tinubu, adding that the former governor had remained consistent in his position.
Akase also rejected attempts to link Ortom to the reported obstruction of Obi’s movement into Makurdi, describing the allegation as “intellectually bankrupt.”
He claimed that some youths who allegedly blocked Obi’s movement were often seen around the governor chanting political slogans.
The former governor’s media consultant further alleged that Obi’s visit to IDP camps had unsettled the state government because it could expose discrepancies between the administration’s claims about the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities and the reality on the ground.
“The truth is that the Alia administration is rattled,” Akase said.
He also claimed that the administration had become increasingly focused on Aondoakaa because it regarded him as a strong contender for the 2027 governorship election.
“Hardly a day passes without coordinated attacks on his person. The fixation is unmistakable,” he said.
According to Akase, the 2027 election would be determined by issues such as security, agriculture, infrastructure, employment, education, healthcare and social welfare, rather than political attacks and propaganda.
He challenged the Alia administration to explain what it had done to address insecurity, revive agriculture, provide infrastructure across the state and create jobs for unemployed youths.
He said Aondoakaa represented a credible alternative and had outlined plans to improve security, accountability and governance in the state.
Akase said the PDP candidate had pledged to guarantee the security of lives and property, enforce the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, and facilitate the return of IDPs to their ancestral communities while securing their farms.
He added that Aondoakaa had also promised to pursue genuine local government autonomy and end what he described as the dependence of elected local government authorities on the state government for funds.
“Above all, Aondoakaa has promised to respect the rule of law and govern with fairness, equity and justice. His message is simple: government must serve the people, not the other way around,” Akase said.
He maintained that the 2027 election would be a referendum on the performance of the incumbent administration, rather than a contest of insults or propaganda.
“The 2027 contest in Benue State will not be about propaganda or insults. It will be a referendum on failure versus competence, excuses versus solutions, and misplaced priorities versus purposeful leadership,” he said.
Akase also defended Ortom over his alleged involvement in providing transportation for Obi during the latter’s visit to Benue.
He described the gesture as a normal act of courtesy and statesmanship, noting that Obi was a former governor, former presidential candidate and prominent Nigerian who was in the state on a humanitarian mission.
According to him, it would have been inappropriate for a former governor to refuse assistance to a fellow Nigerian leader visiting the state to sympathise with displaced persons.
Akase argued that the responsibility of extending such hospitality ordinarily should have been undertaken by the state government, given Obi’s status.
He therefore dismissed attempts to portray Ortom’s gesture as political wrongdoing, describing it as “a humane, courteous and statesmanlike gesture.”
“ In other climes, leaders are commended for extending courtesies across political divides, not vilified for doing so,” he said.
