The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr. Sam Ode, mni, has condemned and described as false, a statement credited to the Senator representing Benue South at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, Comrade Abba Moro against his person and the government of the State.
Recall that Senator Abba Moro during a live interview on AIT this morning claimed that he met the Deputy Governor at an event in Benue South where he made a pledge of N1million to the Internally Displaced Persons in the area.
This incident, Abba Moro described as a poor funding of government officials including the deputy governor under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
But reacting to the statement through a press statement signed by Ior Ikyereve,
Deputy Chief Press Secretary,
Office of the Deputy Governor, Benue State, Barrister Ode refuted the claims by Abba Moro and demanded for facts from the senator to substantive his claim.
The statement reads below:
The attention of the Office of the Deputy Governor of Benue State has been drawn to a statement credited to Senator Patrick Abba Moro during his appearance on an AIT programme this morning, wherein he alleged that the Deputy Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni, visited an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Benue South Senatorial District and pledged the sum of ₦1 million to the Nigerian Army.
We wish to state categorically that this claim is entirely false, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis.
For the record, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode has never met Senator Abba Moro at any IDP camp in Benue South. Indeed, there is no IDP camp in Benue South Senatorial District where such an event could have taken place.
Furthermore, no contingent of the Nigerian Army has ever requested financial support from the Deputy Governor, nor has His Excellency at any time made a pledge of ₦1 million or any other amount to the Nigerian Army. It is neither the constitutional nor administrative responsibility of the Deputy Governor to fund military operations, and no such request has ever been presented to him.
It is therefore surprising that a public figure of Senator Abba Moro’s stature would make such a sweeping allegation on national television without first verifying the facts. Public office holders owe Nigerians a duty to ensure that their public statements are factual, responsible, and capable of promoting informed public discourse rather than misinformation.
We urge Senator Abba Moro to cross-check his facts and refrain from making unfounded assertions capable of misleading the public and creating a false narrative about the person and office of the Deputy Governor of Benue State.
The Deputy Governor remains steadfast in supporting all efforts of the Benue State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to address the security challenges confronting the state. He will continue to collaborate with relevant security agencies within the bounds of his constitutional responsibilities in the interest of peace and the protection of the lives and property of Benue people..