Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
A fresh political storm is brewing in Benue State, as a group of politicians has allegedly pooled resources to destabilise the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The revelation came from former Ambassador to Namibia and one-time governorship candidate, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor, who addressed journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Makurdi.
During the briefing, Tarzoor disclosed that the scheme was carefully coordinated by individuals of Benue origin who “have chosen to be in opposition to the well-being of the state and her people” and are intent on disrupting the current administration. He noted that while attempts to undermine governments are not new in the state, the scale and desperation attached to this particular scheme have become particularly disturbing.
According to him, “To ensure the execution of the plot, two elected members who are serving at the National Assembly have been assigned the role of spokespersons of the evil-minded group.” He questioned why anyone who calls himself a political leader would contemplate such actions against a sitting governor.
Tarzoor claimed that credible intelligence indicates the group has raised N2 billion, funds allegedly meant to bankroll activities designed to throw the Alia administration off balance. He said the plan was expected to fully roll out beginning December 1, 2025.
Among the priorities of the group, he explained, is “to launch a vile campaign and propaganda against the Alia led administration by raising false alarm of financial impropriety.” He added that part of the plan involves frustrating major projects—including the underpass constructions in Makurdi and Gboko as well as ongoing road works across the state—while attempting to ridicule the governor’s well-publicized transparency stance.
He further alleged that the conspirators intend to mobilise youths for violent anti-government protests in Makurdi, Gboko, and other towns to chip away at Governor Alia’s popularity. This, he said, would run alongside a coordinated media offensive, especially on social platforms.
Tarzoor noted that “the plotters have made contacts with key media organisations in Lagos and Abuja to continually publish falsehood against our amiable governor… and portray him in negative light before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National leadership of the APC.”
He also revealed plans to bombard anti-graft agencies with petitions accusing officials of corruption, as well as filing multiple court cases aimed at distracting top members of the administration from their duties.
Issuing a stern warning, Tarzoor declared, “We condemn this plot in its entirety and warn these enemies of Benue State to desist from these ignoble acts before the wrath of the people of the State will visit them.” He stressed that silence would amount to betraying the people, who have benefited from the policies of the current administration.
Tarzoor insisted they have documented information on those who contributed funds to the alleged plot: “We want to make it abundantly clear that we have details of all those who made the contributions and who is in custody of the ‘evil funds’ and we will in due time expose these people…”
He criticised those behind the plan, saying it was “pathetic that elected representatives… would mobilise such humongous amounts of money, not for any developmental project but to ‘pull down the Governor of the people, Fr. Alia.’”
Tarzoor also recalled a previous rumour about the governor’s health, describing it as another failed attempt to tarnish his image. He recounted how detractors circulated false claims that Governor Alia was critically ill and airlifted abroad, only for the governor to be seen in Abuja attending high-level engagements before returning to Benue.
“Like the impeachment plot this one will also fail,” he concluded emphatically.
