Benue Lawmaker Reacts Angrily To Alia’s Palliative Truck Seizure

Benue Lawmaker Reacts Angrily To Alia’s Palliative Truck Seizure

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and Terseer Ugboh, the federal lawmaker representing the Ushongo/Kwande Federal Constituency, are at odds following the governor’s decision to seize palliatives intended for the lawmaker’s constituency……CONTINUE READING 

On Monday, Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, announced an investigation into the palliatives that were reportedly diverted to a private residence. The lawmaker had claimed that the governor confiscated the aid, with the truck now impounded at the Government House.

Governor Alia explained that a tip-off indicated some of the palliatives were being diverted to a private residence along Km2, Gboko Road. He directed the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to investigate and relocate the truck to the Government House. Alia noted that the palliatives, obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Jos, were not registered at the SEMA office in Makurdi as required. Additionally, stakeholders and traditional rulers in the federal constituency were unaware of any incoming palliatives.

While expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support, Alia assured that the palliatives would be distributed to the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency once the investigation is complete.

In response, Ugboh stated that he had transported the relief materials from Jos to Benue State in partnership with NEMA and had planned to offload them at a Makurdi warehouse for future distribution in Jato Aka. He condemned the governor’s actions, claiming that the seizure was politically motivated and asserting that he had spent over N5 million on transporting the materials. Ugboh detailed the contents of the seized truck, including rice, garri, mosquito nets, mattresses, wax print, vegetable oil, seasoning cubes, and tomato paste. He expressed concern over the damage to his reputation and warned that he might seek legal action if the truck is not released by Tuesday. Despite the dispute, Ugboh urged his constituents, especially displaced persons, to be patient and assured them of the eventual release of the seized aid.