Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has strongly denied allegations that he was involved in a N300 billion mission to launder his image abroad.
In a statement on Monday, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, described the claims as “fabricated, pernicious, and dangerously irresponsible.”
According to Kula, Governor Alia’s recent visit to Harvard University was to present a paper on “Democracy and Economic Growth in Nigeria” and to engage in diplomatic efforts to attract partnerships and seek solutions to the state’s security challenges. The Governor’s visit was not aimed at laundering his image, as alleged.
The statement noted that Governor Alia has been a vocal and committed leader in the fight against insecurity in Benue State and has taken concrete steps to improve the state’s security architecture.
The allegations, Kula said, are a desperate attempt to stir ethnic tensions and discredit the Governor’s reputation.
“We challenge these third columnists to provide even a shred of reliable evidence for their claims with dates, documents, venues, or witnesses to support this baseless accusation,” Kula said.
“They will fail because no such scandal exists”
They will fail because no such scandal exists.
“Governor Alia remains a committed servant-leader, a priest of accord, and a patriotic Nigerian who has never compromised the welfare or dignity of the Benue people. His administration has taken concrete steps in improving the security architecture of the state, facilitating the return of displaced people, and engaging constructively with all stakeholders for truce and justice.
Kula noted that no amount of blackmail, propaganda, or ethnic scapegoating was capable of detering Governor Alia from fulfilling his mandate to the people of Benue State.
The Media Aide believed that the coordinated attacks only expose the desperation of failed politicians and rogue actors who cannot stand the Governor’s rising profile and his steady record of responsible leadership.
He called on “well-meaning Nigerians, the diplomatic community, and media practitioners to disregard this toxic and misleading publication for what it truly is: a dangerous distraction manufactured by enemies of progress.”
Kula also said the Government of Benue State reserves the right to take legal actions against those who seek to destroy reputations through malicious falsehood, libel and incitement.
