Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Zege Paul, the Media Assistant to the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD has condemned a statement credited to the governor of the State, Mr. Hyacinth Alia where he made a narrative that the administration of his predecessor neglected the interests of the Ihyarev people of Lobi extraction.
Zege Paul in a worded press statement this evening said that the comment from Governor Alia was not only misleading but it represented a troubling attempt to rewrite history for political convenience.
The statement reads in parts: “Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent comments at a meeting of APC supporters, in which he suggested that the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom neglected the interests of the Ihyarev people of Lobi extraction, are not only misleading but represent a troubling attempt to rewrite history for political convenience.
“Political rhetoric may excite partisan audiences, but governance and history must be anchored on facts. Unfortunately, Governor Alia appears increasingly determined to manufacture a narrative that portrays Benue’s past as one long season of failure so that his administration can claim a monopoly of achievements. The facts, however, tell a different story.
“If the Governor genuinely believes that the Chief Ortom administration sidelined Ihyarev, then he must explain how a supposedly neglected community produced some of the most influential appointees and public office holders under that administration.”
According to him, under Governor Samuel Ortom, prominent sons of Ihyarev occupied strategic positions in government and played critical roles in policy formulation and implementation.
He noted that two illustrious sons of the area, Hon. Anthony Shawon and Dr. Mike Uba, served at different times as Chairmen of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Benue State. “This was not a ceremonial responsibility but a significant leadership position in local government administration” he added.
Saying that the list does not end there, Paul stressed that: “Prominent Ihyarev sons: Senator Titus Zam, Hon. Jerome Torshimbe and Barr. Kenneth Achabo all served as Special Adviser on the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in succession during the eight years of the Ortom administration. Professor Tivlumun Nyitse served as Chief of Staff to the Governor, one of the most powerful positions in government. Hon. Boniface Ortese and Dr. Emmanuel Shior headed the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), also in succession. Hon. Bernard Unenge served as Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals. Dr. Mathew Mnyam headed SUBEB at some point in the life of the Ortom administration. Mnyam was also a Special Adviser to Governor Ortom. Engr. Samuel Kwende served as Executive Secretary of the Science and Technical Board, while Dr. James Aboho was Director of Urban and Rural Development.
“The current Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Alfred Emberga whom, today, Governor Alia proudly makes reference to, was brought to limelight and given his first ever political appointment by Chief Ortom when the then governor appointed Emberga as the Acting State Publicity Secretary of APC.
“Beyond these high-profile appointments were numerous Special Advisers, Principal Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants drawn from Ihyarev.
“The obvious question therefore is: How does a government that allegedly ignored Ihyarev entrust its sons and daughters with such strategic positions of authority and responsibility?
“No reasonable person would argue that any administration can solve every challenge confronting a community. Yet, there is a world of difference between acknowledging that some expectations remained unmet and falsely suggesting that a people were excluded or ignored. The latter is simply not supported by the facts.
“What is even more disturbing is the growing pattern of Governor Alia attacking the records of the previous administration instead of providing convincing answers about his own stewardship after more than three years in office.
THE SALARY ARREARS PROPAGANDA
Equally misleading is Governor Alia’s repeated claim that the Ortom administration left behind three years of salary arrears, pensions and gratuities.
This claim has been repeated so often that it appears the administration hopes repetition will eventually transform fiction into fact. It will not.
The records are clear.
Governor Ortom inherited seven months of salary arrears from the administration before him. Despite severe economic challenges, dwindling revenues and unprecedented security pressures, his administration substantially reduced that burden.
At the time he left office in May 2023, the outstanding salary arrears stood at about five months, having paid 91 out of 96 months in eight years. It is a lie from the pit of hell to say that the Ortom administration left three years of unpaid salaries, as Governor Alia continues to claim. The difference between five months and three years is not a minor discrepancy. It is the difference between truth and political propaganda.
There is nothing wrong with Governor Alia showcasing the achievements of his administration. Every government has a responsibility to account for its stewardship.
What is unacceptable is the persistent attempt to elevate one administration by deliberately diminishing another.
A government confident in its performance does not need to manufacture villains from its predecessors. It does not need to distort historical facts. It does not need to tell communities that they were forgotten when the records clearly show otherwise.
The truth remains that Chief Samuel Ortom’s administration, despite the daunting challenges it faced, made significant contributions to the development of Benue State and provided opportunities for all sections of the state, including the Ihyarev people.
Governor Alia should resist the temptation to turn governance into a perpetual campaign of historical revisionism. Benue people are not suffering from memory loss. They know what happened yesterday, and no amount of political storytelling can erase documented facts.
History is stubborn. It cannot be bullied, intimidated or rewritten from a town hall podium. Facts remain facts, and the facts do not support Governor Alia’s claims.