By Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi, De Oracle
Last week, there were newspapers reports about the mismanagement of a whooping N46 Billion by the Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia-led administration between May 29 and September 30, 2023. But till now, the governor and his media handlers have not said a word about the missing N46B. All they have done was to remain silent for the reports to fade away.
One of the newspapers that exposed these frauds was the Lagos-based Nigerian Concord Newspaper which went further to publish Benue government’s official documents which were used to release the said N46 Billion on the order of the state governor, Father Hyacinth Alia.
In the documents which was lavishly published by some other notable newspapers after they were released to the public by Nigerian Concord Newspaper, the said N46 Billion was stolen and wasted on expensive trips and hotel bills by the governor.
Apart from the expensive trips and hotel bills incurred on the state by Governor Alia, entertainment of guests, feeding and financial gratifications to political thugs, payments for luxury cars for the governor and government officials as well as inflated and duplicated contracts were captured in the documents reliably obtained by Nigerian Concord Newspaper during its investigation.
It was also confirmed that N2.3Billion was stolen in the course of acquiring refurbished buses as palliatives. The governor actually lied and got money for brand new buses but settled for
refurbished buses as palliatives.
The reports confirmed a dangerous step the governor took which was by converting the Hummer buses from right hand drive to left hand drive despite that he had approved and taken money for brand new ones.
According to the news by Nigerian Concord Newspaper, all the companies that handled the car and duplicated and abandoned road contracts belong to cronies of Governor Alia. Some of them are MBS Investments and Properties and Lajec Engineering Services Ltd
Till now, the governor has not explained to the people of Benue state why no project is going on in the state even after releasing the sum of N2,760,018,000.00 to M/s Triacta Nigeria Limited for the construction/rehabilitation of 16 roads within Makurdi metropolis (15.39km) (contract No. BSPPC-47/2023) 6th October, 2023.
On 15th August, 2023, Governor Alia spent N65,000,000.00 for the replacement of 500kva JMG generator at the Main Power House, Government House, Makurdi.
The same day, the government claimed that it spent N43,500,000.00 for the purchase, transportation and installation of 2.5MVA 33/0.14 distribution transformer in Government House, Makurdi.
Interestingly, the records showed that on the 7th September, 2023 the government spent N98,032,900.00 for the procurement and installation of 2500kva power transformer/ring main unit at Government House, Makurdi.
At the same time, the government said it had spent N9.7 million to recharge prepaid electricity meters in Government House for September and October, 2023.
The government of Rev Fr. Alia also claimed that it spent the following amounts for the running of Government House Makurdi:
4th July 23, spent N63,508,333.00 on overhead and other unclear expenses.
27th Jul 23, spent N63,508,333.00 for overhead cost and other expenses. Spent same amount of N63,508,333.00 for August and September, 2023.
Between 14th August and 4th September, the Governor said he spent N60 million on provision of food for his guests at Government House, Makurdi.
Within the four months under review, Governor Alia spent over N5 billion on his travels and other expenses, most of which are personal to his office as the governor.
I am Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi, De Oracular Oracle that eats Jollof Rice in the shrine.
