Claims by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro that Benue State Deputy Governor Sam Ode visited an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Benue South Senatorial District and pledged ₦1 million to the Nigerian Army have been rejected by the Benue State Government as false, misleading and without any factual basis.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Ior Ikyereve, the Benue State Government described the allegation, made by Senator Abba Moro during an appearance on an AIT’S Flagship Current Affairs Programme POLITICAL PLATFORM this Wednesday morning, as entirely false, misleading and devoid of any factual basis.
Ikyereve insisted that the Deputy Governor has never met Senator Abba Moro at any IDP camp in Benue South, stressing that there is no IDP camp in the Benue South Senatorial District where such an event could have taken place.
He further stated that no contingent of the Nigerian Army has ever requested financial support from the Deputy Governor, nor has he at any time pledged ₦1 million or any other amount to the Nigerian Army.
“It is neither the constitutional nor administrative responsibility of the Deputy Governor to fund military operations, and no such request has ever been presented to him,” Ikyereve said.
He added that it was surprising that a public figure of Senator Abba Moro’s stature would make such a sweeping allegation on national television without first verifying the facts.
The Deputy Chief Press Secretary said public office holders owe Nigerians a duty to ensure that their public statements are factual, responsible and capable of promoting informed public discourse rather than misinformation.
He urged Senator Abba Moro to verify his facts and refrain from making unfounded assertions capable of misleading the public and creating a false narrative about the person and office of the Deputy Governor of Benue State.
The statement added that the Deputy Governor remains steadfast in supporting all efforts of the Benue State Government, under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, to address the security challenges confronting the state.
It said he will continue to collaborate with relevant security agencies within the bounds of his constitutional responsibilities in the interest of peace and the protection of lives and property in Benue State.
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(Editor: Ada Ononye)
