By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Benue State Government has insisted that there was no going back on probing the immediate past administration of the state over alleged misappropriation of government funds.
Mr Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, revealed this to journalists during a chat at the weekend in Makurdi.
Mr. Kula said Governor Alia on assumption of office extended an olive branch to some ex- government officials of the immediate past administration, who were alleged to have issues bothering on financial mismanagement to come for amicable dialogue, expressing displeasure that nine months into the administration non of such people has shown up.
Kula pointed out that Governor Alia, who had opted for dialogue with the intention that such people confide secretly in government the amount they had syphoned, what they had spent and what was remaining, staying that government wanted to recover at least a fraction of the loot but alleged that the affected people declined to cooperate.
According to the CPS, “Now that the two commissions of inquiry into income and expenditure and that of sales/ lease of government assets companies and markets at both state and local government of Benue State have been inaugurated to probe government activities between 2015-2023, government has noticed mounted tension in the state and is still expecting more of such actions” the chief press secretary told
Kula told journalists, that government was equally aware that those with skeletons in their cupboards would not sit and watch without reacting.
He called on the people of the state to be wary that corruption was fighting back in different dimensions, explaining that they started by accusing those in the Alia led administration holding key and sensitive positions like the special adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Dennis Akura of embezzled over 20billion in the present administration even before becoming special adviser to the governor.
He said the group has shifted with its tactics to accuse the SUBEB Chairman of corruption even as he has uncovered monumental fraud committed at SUBEB but noted that such antics were only meant to distract the SUBEB boss and the government from prosecuting the probe.
The CPS also informed “They know that with the probe a lot of things would surely be uncovered and that is why such people have planned stages of campaigns of calumny with the intention to distract the government as well as portray it negatively in the eyes of the people”
The Benue State Government, Kula noted was expecting more of such attacks targeted at those in the Alia led administration holding sensitive positions, insisting that government on the other hand was not intimidated but rather determined to open the account books, stressing that the monies belongs to Benue people.
The governor spokesman, who said the refusal of some officials of the immediate past administration linked to some of the issues to come for dialogue and possible amicable negotiation 9 months into the present administration necessitated the probe.
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