Immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has insisted that his administration followed due process in all his actions, particularly in the allocation of vehicles to out-gone government officials and auctioning of some public property.
Recall that the current governor of the state, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, last Thursday inaugurated the Asset Recovery vowed to recover all government assets, including vehicles alleged to have been taken away by Ortom, his former deputy as well as past government officials.
However, former Governor Ortom, in a statement signed by his media aide, Terver Akase on Sunday, said properties taken away were as a result of a waiver granted by the state Executive Council.
“The Benue State Executive Council made the decision to grant waivers to government officials, including the Governor and his Deputy, to allow them to retain their official vehicles. The Council also approved the auction of certain assets that were no longer of value to the government,” he said.
He, therefore, advised Governor Alia to focus on governance and desist from tarnishing his hard-earned image by putting him on trial in the media.
“Since May 29, 2023, Governor Alia and his team have been intent on tarnishing Ortom’s hard-earned reputation by putting him on trial in the media. Their latest move was the inauguration of the Assets Recovery Committee where they once again accused the former Governor of looting government assets in collusion with members of his former cabinet.
“Governor Alia has become a judge in his own case. He has convicted the immediate past Governor even before the committee on assets recovery would commence its assignment, thereby violating the principle of audi alterem partem which upholds fair hearing.
“Our advice to Governor Alia remains the same: focus on governance and deliver on the numerous promises he made to the people during the campaigns. Blaming Chief Ortom for the government’s lack of progress in addressing development issues does not lend credibility to the current administration,” Akase said.