Nigerian Concord Newspaper
A Human Rights lawyer and advocate, Agena Ande, Esq has accused the Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia of misappropriating a whooping N400bilion in two years without any basic infrastructure to show for it..
Ande, a renowned advocate for good Governance in Nigeria however called on the governor to account for how the N400billiion which he said the present administration has gotten from federal allocations and other sources was spent as part of his obligations to the people that elected him as governor in 2023.
According to him, the funds would have been used for meaningful infrastructural projects across the twenty three local government areas of Benue State if the government genuinely loved the people of the State.
Speaking in an open letter to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Human Rights lawyer
accused the administration of failing to deliver basic infrastructure, improve security or adequately cater for internally displaced persons (IDPs), despite what he claimed were substantial inflows from federal allocations, security votes, intervention funds and internally generated revenue.
Titled, “Mr Governor, Where Is The Benue Money? Two Years, ₦400 Billion, And Nothing To Show,” the letter alleged that Benue received over ₦300 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), billions of naira in monthly security votes, more than ₦30 billion in fuel subsidy palliatives, donor and intervention funds, as well as internally generated revenue from taxes and other sources.
According to him, the combined receipts amounted to a conservative estimate of over ₦400 billion within 24 months.
“I write not as a politician, but as a Nigerian who believes that government exists to serve the people. I write with pain because Benue is bleeding, and the numbers do not lie,” Ande wrote.
He alleged that despite the funds, the state could not boast of constructing 100 kilometres of new roads, describing several major road corridors as being in deplorable condition.
According to him, roads linking Makurdi to Naka and Gboko to Katsina-Ala remain largely impassable, while deteriorating rural roads continue to hinder the transportation of agricultural produce to markets.
Ande also criticised the security situation in the state, claiming that attacks in communities across Guma, Logo, Kwande, Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas had persisted despite the state’s security spending.
He further alleged that over two million displaced residents remained in camps without adequate resettlement, while teachers, healthcare workers and pensioners were owed salaries and entitlements.
He also accused the administration of relying on publicity rather than tangible achievements.
“A government that receives ₦400billion in two years and cannot deliver 100km of roads has failed the basic test of leadership,” he said.
“A governor who is quick on TV and slow on projects is not leading. He is managing perception.”
The advocate demanded that the Benue State Government publish a detailed account of all revenues received since May 2023 and provide a breakdown of how the funds were spent.
He also called on the administration to prioritise completed infrastructure projects, strengthen community-based security measures, resettle internally displaced persons and clear outstanding salaries and pensions.
“History will not remember your grammar. History will remember your roads. History will not remember your press conferences. History will remember if Benue children slept in peace,” the letter stated.