Maureen Okpe
…CPS Highlights Reforms, Says Critics Have No Moral Right to Attack Current Administration
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has responded strongly to recent criticisms from former officials of the Samuel Ortom administration, declaring that those who mismanaged the state for eight years have no moral authority to attack a government working to fix their failures.
Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, on Thursday, made the remarks during a press conference at the Government House in Makurdi.
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He described the former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, as one of the key actors in what he termed “the institutionalized rot and corruption” that characterized the previous administration.
Kula accused the ex-commissioner of attempting to discredit the ongoing reforms in the education sector, despite being responsible for its decline under Ortom’s watch.
“It is unfortunate that someone who presided over the collapse of the education sector for eight years would now muster the audacity to criticize a government that is fixing the mess he left behind,” Kula said.
Alia’s Major Achievements in Education
Highlighting Governor Alia’s achievements in the education sector within just two years, the CPS listed several landmark reforms, including:
Establishment of the Benue State University of Science and Technology, Ihugh, which has received full approvals, licenses, and funding. Construction is ongoing, and principal officers have been appointed.
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Payment of 38 months of earned allowance arrears to academic and non-academic staff in state tertiary institutions—an unresolved issue left by the previous government.
Recruitment of 9,700 qualified teachers to revamp the basic education system.
Ongoing rehabilitation of 16 government secondary schools and reconstruction of 225 primary schools—many with multi-storey classroom blocks, a first in Benue State history.
Creation of a Bureau for Quality Assurance, which has already identified over 4,000 substandard schools for closure or mandatory upgrade.
Introduction of a Student Insurance Scheme, in partnership with NICON Insurance, covering all public school learners.
Launch of an Engineering Faculty at the Moses Orshio Adasu University to increase access to technical education.
Payment of ₦200,000 bursary to each of the 181 Benue law students across Nigerian Law Schools.
Full sponsorship of WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB exams for over 18,000 final-year students in public secondary schools.
“Criticism Should Be Constructive, Not Hypocritical” – CPS Warns
Kula challenged Ortom and his allies to show any comparable achievements during their eight-year tenure, particularly in education, accusing them of leaving behind “debt, decay, and demoralized institutions.”
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He also revealed that forensic audits initiated by the Alia administration have uncovered financial irregularities involving key actors in the past administration. Investigations, he said, are ongoing, and those found culpable would be held accountable.
“These outbursts are desperate attempts to distract the public and avoid accountability. This government will not be blackmailed into silence,” Kula stated.
While acknowledging that Governor Alia has not commissioned every completed project, he emphasized that “delivery and impact matter more than fanfare.”
“Compare Your 8 Years with Our 2” – Government Tells Ortom Camp
The CPS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and service delivery, urging Benue residents to objectively compare the current administration’s achievements in just two years against Ortom’s eight years in office.
“Criticism is part of democracy, but it must be constructive—not rooted in hypocrisy or sanctimony. Let the people judge based on facts, not noise,” he said.