Rift rumours deepen as group accuses Benue Gov of undermining Deputy, govt denies allegation

Rift rumours deepen as group accuses Benue Gov of undermining Deputy, govt denies allegation

By Johnson Arua

Makurdi — Political tension appears to be brewing in Benue State following allegations by a youth group that Governor Hyacinth Alia has sidelined and humiliated his Deputy, Barr. Sam Ode, in the running of government affairs.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday by Asom Jerry, spokesperson of the Enlightened Tiv Youths (ETY), the group accused Governor Alia of “systematically humiliating, silencing and stripping the Deputy Governor’s office of relevance.”

The statement alleged that the Governor recently frustrated a voter registration awareness campaign organised by his aide, Hon. Solomon Semaka, after the Deputy Governor’s wife, Mrs. Christie Ada Sam-Ode, was appointed as the campaign’s focal person.

According to the group, the Governor allegedly directed government officials not to attend the event, leading to financial and logistical losses for the organisers. The group claimed the incident reflected “vindictive pettiness” and was part of “a growing pattern of deliberate sidelining and suppression” of the Deputy Governor.

“The office of the Deputy Governor has received only ₦20 million in two years,” the group said, describing the figure as “an insult” to the second-highest office in the state. It further accused Governor Alia of reducing the Deputy Governor’s office to “a union position,” warning that such treatment undermines democracy and sets a dangerous precedent.

The ETY urged civil society organisations, the media, and the legislature to “defend the sanctity of the office” and cautioned that “Benue people did not elect a king and his subjects,” but a team expected to work together in trust and service.

However, the Office of the Deputy Governor swiftly reacted to the claims, describing them as “false, reckless and politically motivated.”

However a counter-statement signed by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ior Ikyereve, dismissed the allegations of strained relations between Governor Alia and his deputy, insisting that both leaders “enjoy a harmonious working relationship built on mutual respect and shared commitment to good governance.

“The insinuations suggesting that the office has been reduced to a ‘union position’ are not only misleading but also reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Deputy Governor’s office functions,” the statement said.

Mr. Ikyereve maintained that the Governor and his deputy are “engaged daily in efforts to deliver development across Benue State” and that “fifth columnists” were behind the campaign of falsehood aimed at creating division within the administration.

He urged the media and the public to exercise restraint and responsibility in handling sensitive government matters, warning against attempts to use the Deputy Governor’s office “as a convenient platform for personal or political attacks.

“The Government of Benue State under Governor Hyacinth Alia remains committed to transparency, unity, and the collective well-being of all citizens,” the statement concluded.

The latest exchange has further fuelled public speculation about possible cracks within the Benue State Government, though officials insist all is well between the Governor and his deputy.