By Oliver Omenka
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has been having sleepless nights these past few days. His self-acclaimed credentials as a man of piety and integrity are being put to the test, and so far, he has failed the test. One of his top aides who is believed to be acting under his strict supervision has been indicted by the Benue State House Assembly as a very corrupt official.
Mrs. Grace Adagba, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board is being accused of embezzling over N2 billion of public funds under her purview. The Assembly has asked her to step aside from her official duties to allow for further investigate.
The scandal has been in the public space for a week now but the man who calls himself the Benue “messiah”, the principal of Mrs Adagba, is keeping mute. Governor Alia is apparently protecting her darling aide and has pointedly told the lawmakers to go to hell. He will not sack or suspend the SUBEB Chairman.
READ ALSO
We Stand with SGF Akume, Nongov People Declare
Transparency: Tell The People How Much Benue Is Receiving From FAAC -A Note For Gov Alia’s CPS
N513bn Federal allocation: Group Knocks Governor Alia Over lack of transparency
The refusal of Governor Alia to heed the decision of the state legislature has exposed him for who he is – a pretender; a double faced man who lies to the masses that he is the best man for their mandate but hides under the veil to perpetuate corrupt acts.
Meanwhile, the Makurdi Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the receipt of a well worded petition against the embattled Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Grace Adaagba.
The petition was filed at the commission by a Benue-born human rights activist, Victor Adugu who also attached supporting documents and appealed to the anti-graft agency to invite Mrs Adaagba, investigate and bring her to justice.
Alia’s government is also accused of stealing N1.7 billion belonging to the 23 local governments of the state. His Special Adviser who recently presided over the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura, though now redeployed to another office by the Governor, has been summoned to appear before the Assembly to defend himself and his boss.
Akura came out some days ago and said that he used the local government funds to purchase the vehicles that Governor Alia recently donated to the new security outfit that he launched in Makurdi. The implication of the Special Adviser’s statement is that only the governor can account for the money. Alia is yet to deny the allegation.
Reliable sources have revealed that Governor Alia has paid for a private jet for himself. He is also said to be building a 5-star hotel in Kigali, Rwanda and has already bought houses in the United States and the United Kingdom. In Dubai, Alia is reported to be making plans to own a gigantic shopping mall there.
Already, the construction of a big night club owned by the Benue State Governor has gone to advanced stages in Abuja.
Alia is quoted to have told a close friend recently that he has so much money now so no one should threaten him about 2nd term. That even if he doesn’t get a 2nd term, he will never be a poor man in his lifetime when he leaves office.
Read: JUST IN: Court grants Farotimi N30m bail, bars media interviews
Now that Governor Alia has dared the Benue State House of Assembly, it will be an interesting drama to watch. Will the Assembly allow the Governor to get away with his snub? Time will tell.
