Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has revealed that even though air transportation is not so functional in the state, he understands that the state has an airplane, but its whereabouts is still unknown.
The governor made this known when he addressed the diaspora community at a Zoom meeting organised by the Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) and the Idoma Association in the United States of America to enable them get firsthand information on the present administration’s policy direction and other programmes.
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He said, “If we have better investment opportunities in the air transport sector, we will look into that.”
The chief press secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, quoted Alia as saying, “If the government has better investment opportunities in the air transport sector, it will look into that. There is nothing wrong in having an airport but there is a need for an improved economy.”
However, in a swift reaction, the media aide to the former governor, Samuel Ortom, debunked the allegation, saying, “We read a statement today by the chief press secretary to the Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, who alleged, among other things, that he understands the state has an airplane but its whereabouts is still being looked into.
“We want to state categorically that if the Benue State government purchased an aircraft before Chief Samuel Ortom became governor in 2015, such a transaction was not part of the handover notes he received from his predecessor, and no aircraft was handed to the state government under Ortom.”
Akase said, “Throughout his two tenures (2015–2023), the Ortom administration did not buy an airplane. When he was leaving office, the handover notes he presented to his successor, Governor Alia, also had no indication that the state had purchased/owned an aircraft.
“An allegation of this nature is too weighty to be swept under the carpet, and only its proof will enable Benue people to know the truth.
“We therefore challenge Governor Alia to show evidence that the Benue State government owned an aircraft before he became governor. He should do this with proof of the date and amount paid for the plane, the model or manufacturer of the aircraft, as well as the particular administration that purchased it.”