A pro-democracy group known as Alliance for Truth and Justice has taken a swipe at Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia for taking undue credit over federal government projects in the state.
In a statement signed by its President, Aloysius Gbakaan, the group stated that contrary to Governor Alia’s claim, the ongoing rehabilitating of the Abinsi-Agasha-Anyiin-Wukari road is being carried out by the President Tinubu administration as the road is a federal project.
The group described the Benue State governor as a desperate man who has made falsehood a part of his character and actions.
The statement reads:
“In the last 24hrs, we have seen social media posts by supporters and some appointees of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia claiming that the Governor is the one rehabilitating the Abinsi-Agasha-Anyiin-Wukari road.
“This is another lie and deceit concocted by Governor Alia and his band of followers to discredit the good work that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been doing in Benue State.
“The Federal Government under President Tinubu has been sending voluminous amounts of money to Benue State, yet, all that Governor Alia does is fly in private jets to sleep in 5-star hotels and wait till the Federal Government approves a project in the state then he starts to lie to the people that his administration is the one carrying out the project.
“For emphasis, we want to make it clear that the Rehabilitation/Maintenance of Wukari-Anyiin-Agasha-Abinsi Expressway with a spur to Ayilamo-Abeda-Afia road is a Federal Government project which calls were made for its rehabilitation long before Governor Alia abandoned priesthood to join partisan politics. He therefore knows nothing about the project.
“If Governor Alia insists that his government is the one rehabilitating the Abinsi-Agasha-Anyiin-Wukari road, let him show proof of the contract award. We have attached screenshots here of contract bids published by Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and other previous efforts that culminated in the ongoing work.
“We want Benue people to watch out for similar lies from Governor Alia regarding federal projects in Benue State because more of such projects will soon be awarded by the Federal Government for the state.
“Other federal roads to be rehabilitated in the state soon include: the Aliade-Gboko-Yandev federal road; the Gboko-Lessel-Ihugh-Tse Mker federal road and the Oju-Otukpo federal road.
“Whenever work starts on the above listed roads and you hear Governor Alia and his liars claiming credit, tell them that they have no shame!
“President Tinubu sent N5 billion as palliatives which included the money that was used for the purchase of buses for Benue Links Transport Company, but Governor Alia told the public that he bought the buses with state funds. He went ahead to brand the buses with his picture boldly on each of them.
“He also took credit for the street lights recently installed in Makurdi and was going to claim credit for the Makurdi-Enugu road if the Minister of Works Dave Umahi had not visited Benue State to clarify the issue. Already, Alia had made a fake announcement that he had approved N10 billion for the construction of a flyover at Wurukum roundabout. What a supposed man of God! Where is that money now that we all know it is the Federal government that is to build the Wurukum flyover?
“We advise Governor Alia to wear a regalia of honour for once. It is not good for a man who was ordained to make falsehood a part of his character and actions”, the group stated.
