Benue PDP Tackles Gov Alia Over Award Of Road Contracts

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has countered Governor Hyacinth Alia over the recent award of contracts for some projects in the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday through its State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, PDP said the governor did not follow constitutional provisions in his contract award.

The party described the move as a ‘danger looming over the state’, urging concerned citizens to rise up and resist with every lawful means.

The PDP asserted that Governor Alia had suspended the constitutional rule in the state and was running the government under his watch as a dictatorship.

The statement reads: “Yesterday (Monday) Governor Alia announced the award of contracts for the construction of 16 township roads in Makurdi, the sum for which he did not disclose, but which obviously runs into billions of naira by current cost standards.

“This is in addition to a contract earlier awarded by the governor for the renovation of the state assembly complex, the sum for which he also did not disclose but which should be in the region of a billion naira.

“Governor Alia did not forward names of nominees for appointment into a cabinet as commissioners or advisers within 60 days, which grossly violates Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The PDP scribe contended that since the assumption of office on May 29, 2023, the governor froze all financial accounts of the state government in various banks and that he alone made withdrawals from as he deemed fit.

He added that by the award of those contracts on Monday, the governor violated the provisions of Benue State’s financial instructions, which stated in Chapter 23, Section 2305 that the spending limit and approval permitted the governor in respect of contracts shall, in all requests, not exceed N50,000,000.

Iortyom argued further that the procedure for bidding for contracts for qualified contractors was laid down in the Benue State Public Procurement Law and involved the mandatory participation of the State Executive Council (SEC), which he noted the governor had failed to constitute.

“PDP understands that Governor Alia is inclined to discharging the business of government as a sole administrator, a despot, a dictator under a system not regulated by due process and rule of law, but which permits him unlimited powers.

“This, our great party, will lead the charge in resisting through all lawful means to safeguard the sanctity of the democratic system of government which is in practice in Nigeria and Benue State. PDP will resist the budding dictatorship being incubated by Governor Alia in Benue State,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, according to Daily Trust, Governor Alia had flagged off the construction of 16 roads, totalling 15.39 kilometres in Makurdi.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Infrastructure, Planning and Implementation set up by the governor, Engr Gabriel Akpen, told newsmen that the roads would cost the state government N6bn and assured that the project would be constructed according to specification and within the timeframe of 11 months.