The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and Terseer Ugboh, the federal lawmaker representing Ushongo/Kwande Federal Constituency, are at each other’s throats over the governor’s directive to seize palliatives delivered by Ugboh.
The federal lawmaker has condemned the governor’s actions, accusing him of politicising the issue.
The lawmaker had accused the governor of confiscating the palliatives meant for his constituency, with the truck impounded at the Government House.
Ugboh revealed he spent over N5million transporting the aid to Benue, disclosed the financial and logistical effort invested in supporting the state.
The federal lawmaker, addressing journalists on Monday, explained that he had transported relief materials from Jos to Benue State in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
He noted that the agreement was to unload the materials at a Makurdi warehouse until a distribution date for beneficiaries in Jato Aka was set.
He criticised the state governor for politicising the issue, expressing regret that his efforts were being undermined.
“It is accurate that the Benue State Government seized one of the truckloads of palliatives, diverting it to the Government House under the false claim that we intended to misappropriate the materials,” he said.
The items in the seized truck included 578 bags of rice, 578 bags of garri, 578 mosquito nets, 578 mattresses, 578 pieces of wax print, 58 cartons of vegetable oil, 58 cartons of seasoning cubes, and 58 cartons of tomato paste.
The lawmaker, whose reputation he feels has been tarnished by the state government, warned that he would pursue legal action if the truck was not released by Tuesday.
Ugboh also urged his constituents, particularly the displaced persons, to remain patient as he assured them of the truck’s eventual release.
Meanwhile, the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said on Monday that an investigation is going on regarding the diversion of palliatives to a private residence.
The governor noted that he had received a tip-off about palliatives being rerouted to a private residence at Km2 along Gboko Road.
Upon receiving this information, the governor instructed the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to locate the residence and have the truck transporting the palliatives redirected to the Government House.
He explained that the palliatives, which were obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Jos, should have been registered at the SEMA office in Makurdi, but this was not done.
Consultations with stakeholders and traditional rulers in the federal constituency revealed that they were unaware of any palliatives being sent to their areas.