The Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, in Benue State has referred to as on the anti-corruption companies within the nation to make sure that officers of the state authorities who’ve been fingered within the alleged embezzlement of native authorities funds are dropped at justice.
The PDP, which made the decision in an announcement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Chief Bemgba Iortyom, described as unacceptable, studies of mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies by the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration.
The social gathering pointed to studies that N20 billion out of N50 billion belonging to the 23 native authorities councils within the state was allegedly deducted and paid illegally into non-public accounts.
The assertion reads, “The structure of two panels by Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to probe the administration of his instant predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom, is evidently a ploy to shied from public scrutiny the serial failures of his authorities.
“In what could also be interpreted as a insecurity within the Benue Judicial household, Governor Alia chosen two justices from outdoors the state to move the 2 panels that are vested with separate mandates to probe into the property and funds of the state in the course of the period of the Ortom administration from Could 29, 2015 to Could 28, 2023.
“Chief Ortom, who for the reason that expiry of his two phrases in workplace as governor has lived freely among the many folks within the state, has since expressed his readiness to submit himself earlier than any lawful course of as would require him to present account of his stewardship as governor.
“The Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) within the state, likewise, acknowledges the place of probity and accountability as essential elements of fine governance, and can stand by its Chief, Chief Ortom, by this technique of stock-taking, if that’s really what it is going to be.
“However, the social gathering raises questions as to the timing of the probe train, coming it at a time Governor Alia’s desk is already full with problems with insecurity and allegations of monumental corruption going down below his watch.
“PDP remembers that solely final week the governor issued a 14 days ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen who’ve instreamed into the state with 1000’s of cattle to depart, nevertheless, there was no clear assertion on the results for non compliance with the ultimatum.
“Immediately marks the eighth day into that ultimatum and if something, the herders have intensified their inflow into the state coming in bigger numbers and with bigger herds of livestock, thereby deepening insecurity and placing to better jeopardy the survival of the individuals who rely upon the land for fundamental sustenance.
“There has additionally arisen the allegations of large corruption going down on the Bureau of Native Authorities and Chieftaincy Affairs the place sharp practices have been uncovered within the type of unlawful deductions and remittances from the accounts of the 23 native authorities councils into non-public accounts of sure officers of presidency and a few suspected cronies of the governor.
“In the previous couple of days, the nationwide media have been awash with information of civil society teams who, having noticed the fleece going down on the Benue State native authorities Bureau, have forwarded petitions concerning these allegations to anti-corruption authorities vested with the powers for investigating and prosecuting monetary crimes, and the sums concerned run into tens of billions of naira inside a interval of lower than a yr.
“PDP notes with unhappiness that these allegations of mismanagement of taxpayers monies by the Alia authorities are such that an alleged N20 billion out of N50 billion belonging to the 23 native authorities councils has been deducted into unlawful accounts, and this hints loudly on the motive why Governor Alia had gone to the extremities of disregarding collection of court docket orders to sack the lawful councils and put of their place his chosen cronies as caretaker chairmen.
“Additionally of grave concern are the allegations that an estimated near N300 million was deducted from the native authorities funds month-to-month purportedly to feed and cater for the IDPs within the state, but it’s not wherever identified that the Alia authorities has any programme in place for the IDPs.
“PDP cautions Governor Alia in opposition to trifling with the safety and well-being of the folks of Benue State whom he swore on oath to serve, and should resist the temptation to take pleasure in vendetta and smokescreens whereas insecurity and poverty pose an more and more monstrous existential menace to the folks.
“The social gathering additionally calls on the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and the Presidency to make sure that these officers of the Alia administration fingered within the alleged grand theft of native authorities funds within the state are dropped at guide.“
