The Benue State government has refuted claims of spending N40 billion within the first five months of its administration.
Governor Hyacinth Alia also warned those spreading unverified rumors to understand that spreading falsehood is a criminal act.
Alia who reacted to an online publication that accused him of expending N40 billion in five months, stated that the authors of the report must be prepared to substantiate their allegations.
Alia who spoke through the chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula said the online publication also accused him of spending over N2 billion for the purchase of vehicles for himself, assembly members, commissioners, special advisers, and other aides when he had promised to cut costs of governance, describing such allegations as purely acts of mischief.
Kula, who made the position of the governor known at a press conference said, “We woke up this morning and saw a mischievous online publication alleging that the governor is reckless in spending the state resources contrary to what he said.
“This is the most mischievous news we have heard in over five months of this administration; the reporter of the allegations is not even in touch with economic realities of our time. Alia’s administration took off on zero ground, he did not meet any functional vehicle as he continued driving the same vehicles he used during his campaigns till we the appointees pleaded with him to at least change his vehicles
He was doing this not for his selfish interest but to minimise cost so as to take care of other pressing issues. N2 billion naira is not even adequate to purchase vehicles for the governor’s convoy, 32 Assembly members, 17 commissioners, 27 special advisers, including the principal officers who are entitled to two vehicles.
The governor has also embarked on the construction of 16 streets in the state capital, lightening of the town which before now was looking like a local government, renovation of the state assembly, state secretariat, commissioners’ quarters, procurement of fertilisers which was given to farmers at a subsidized rate among others.
“Governor Alia has kept his promise with pensions who have been paid up to date as well as salaries. So I think the writer of the allegations is trying to get attention of the governor but it must not be through blackmail because the governor is prudent in handling resources of the state”.
Source: Leadership
