Benue: Ortom kicks as Alia alleges state aircraft missing
The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has challenged his successor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to provide evidence to back his claim that the state owns an aircraft.
Ortom, in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said he was not aware of the existence of a state-owned aircraft, as his predecessor did not pass one down to him and he did not hand over any to Alia.
Ortom was reacting to a statement by Alia’s CPS, Kula Tersoo, quoting the governor as telling Benue people in the diaspora that the state owns an aircraft.
According to the statement, the Zoom meeting was organised by the Mutual Union of Tiv in America MUTA, and the Idoma Association in the United States of America.
Alia was quoted to have said, “Air transportation is not so functional. I understand the state has an airplane but its whereabouts are still being looked into.
“If the government has better investment opportunities in the air transport sector, it will look into that. There is nothing wrong with having an airport but there is a need for an improved economy.”
Reacting, however, Ortom wondered where Alia got the information and challenged him to show proof that the state owns an airplane.
His media aide said, “I want to state categorically that if the Benue State Government purchased an aircraft before Chief Samuel Ortom became governor in 2015, such a transaction was not part of the handover notes that he received from his predecessor, and no aircraft was handed to the state government under Ortom.
“Similarly, throughout his two tenures (2015 – 2023), the Ortom administration did not buy an airplane. When he was leaving office, the handover notes he presented to his successor, Governor Alia, also had no indication that the state purchased/owned an aircraft.
“An allegation of this nature is too weighty to be swept under the carpet, and only its proof will enable Benue people to know the truth.
“We, therefore, challenge Governor Alia to show evidence that the Benue State Government owned an aircraft before he became governor. He should do this with proof of the date and amount paid for the plane, model/manufacturer of the aircraft, as well as the particular administration that purchased it.”
The PUNCH reports that Alia in February raised two separate committees to probe the administration of Ortom.
The first panel was named the “Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Income and Expenditure of Benue State Government from May 29, 2015, to May 28, 2023.”
The second was called “Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Sale/Lease of Government Assets, Companies and Markets (both State and Local Government-owned Markets), as well as Moribund Companies From or Before May 28, 2015 to May 28th, 2023.”
Alia was quoted to have said, “Air transportation is not so functional. I understand the state has an airplane but its whereabouts are still being looked into.
“If the government has better investment opportunities in the air transport sector, it will look into that. There is nothing wrong with having an airport but there is a need for an improved economy.”
Reacting, however, Ortom wondered where Alia got the information and challenged him to show proof that the state owns an airplane. Punch
