Benue Govt debunks dismisses report of diverted relief materials
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has denied a report on social media alleging that Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia diverted a truck of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande local government area.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, described the report as false, unfounded, and malicious, aimed at tarnishing the Governor’s image.
He also advised political office holders to seek out viable means of dragging home dividends of democracy and stop using Governor Alia’s name to buy sympathy from their constituents.
Kula debunked the report on Monday in Government House during a press conference, described the report as false as unfounded fashioned to tarnish the hard earned image of the person of the Governor.
He explained that on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at about 6: 00 PM, the office of the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor on Public Utility discovered a truck offloading goods with inscription “not for sale” in a private property located along KM2 Gboko road, Makurdi, Benue State.
He further explained that after thorough investigations, it was discovered that the relief materials coming from NEMA to Benue IDPs were diverted by some persons who were only acting on the directives of the House of Reps Member, Hon. Terseer Ugbor.
According to CPS, further investigations revealed that Hon. Terseer Ugbor is married to the younger sister of the wife of the owner of the private property where the goods were being offloaded.
“Normally, goods of this nature are required to pass through the Office of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) before reaching their destination. However, in this case, the usual procedure was bypassed, and the goods were diverted to a private property for a purpose yet unknown.
“Upon getting information about this, the Acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu rushed to the place and sought to find out why the boys failed to follow the normal procedure of registering the goods in his office before proceeding with the goods to IDPs in Kwande. The boys did not give him any tangible response.
“The SEMA Boss again asked them why they were offloading the goods in that private property instead of taking them to Kwande. Still, there was no answer. At this time, the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor on Public Utility, Hon. Timothy Chia called the Chief Security Officer, who ordered that the truck be moved to Government House,” he explained.
Kula stated that the action became necessary in order to carry out further investigations and ascertain the rationale behind the diversion of the goods to a private residence in Makurdi.
“Let it be known to everyone that the security confiscated the diverted goods and took them to Government House not for any wicked, dishonourable, or sinister motive as alleged by the writer.
“It is also important for the public to note that Governor Alia has not been on cold war with anybody and that he would not engage in any war with anybody. The invisible forces of poverty, hunger, and underdevelopment against Benue people are enough to engage the arsenals of reasoning of our dear Governor.
“The saying that Governor Alia vowed to frustrate every efforts made to alleviate the suffering of Kwande IDPs by Hon. Terseer Ugbor is not true. This statement was made simply to infuriate the IDPs and implant hatred in the hearts of Kwande people. Governor Alia has been begging National Assembly members to come home and attend to the needs of their constituents. He cannot turn around to frustrate any effort made by any of them in that regard,” he maintained.
Kula said the statement that Governor Alia hates Kwande is another tactical way of pitching Kwande people against the Governor.
“The Governor does not hate Kwande, He has awarded contract for the construction of many roads in Kwande some of these roads are currently under construction. Also plans are on the sleeves to drag home some huge benefits of democracy to Kwande people.
“Governor Alia has taken note of the plight of IDPs in Kwande and other places in Benue State. Through the office of SEMA, the Governor has been providing humanitarian services to the IDPs in Kwande, including the refugee camp at Kyogen. Even on that same day that the diverted truck was confiscated, Governor Alia sent relief materials to the IDPs camp in Kwande Local Government.
“The problem of IDPs is at the heart of the Governor, and that is why he cannot allow anyone to divert anything meant for IDPs for any personal use. Goods meant for IDPs should be given to IDPs. They should not be stored for inward distribution to constituents as Christmas packages,” he stated.
