House of representative member representing Kwande/ Ushongo federal constituency Hon. Terseer ugbor was indicted to have acused the Governor of Benue State Rev.Fr Hyacinth Alia for allegedly diverting a truck lorry trailer containing relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons IDPS in Kwande and Ushongo in Benue State.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Makurdi, Benue State, the chief press Secretary to the Governor Mr Tersoo Kula who was surrounded by his colleagues disclosed that is laughable for the law maker to have made such sweeping statements.
He further narrated for avoidance of doubt truck load of relief materials in question someone brought it at kilometre 5 at Gyado village and his Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia got wind on how assorted relief materials were off loaded at private residence.
” As chief security officer of the state Governor Alia quickly ordered law enforcement agents to immediately bring the truck vehicle containing relief materials for the owner to come forward for clarification and subsequent collection. ”
The CPS Mr.kula reiterated as the owner of the vehicle truck been awaited to our greatest chagrin the other day we were amazed to have read in the National dailies credited to Hon. Terseer Ugbor accused Governor Alia of allegedly stolen relief materials for Displaced Persons in those settlements.
In his reaction to the allegations. Reaction by Rep. Terseer Ugbor, Member of House of Representatives on Alleged Diversion of Palliative he Facilitated for Idps in Kwande/Ushongo
He woke up to the news that palliatives and relief materials facilitated by my office for the people of Kwande/Ushongo have become a source of controversy, thus necessitating my clarification.
According to him it is true that we transported relief materials to Benue State from jos, in collaboration with NEMA.
Also true that we decided to offload at Makurdi in agreement with NEMA pending a fixed date for distribution at Jato Aka when all logistics and proper planning will have been completed for effective distribution to the targeted beneficiaries.
Hon Ugbor has admitted that the truck load of palliatives was seized at instance of. the Benue State Government one of the truck loads of palliatives and diverted to the government house under the pretext that we planned to divert the materials.
The lawmaker denounced that not a single item is missing or diverted under my watch as this is not the first time palliatives have been delivered to the state capital, before disbursement to the local governments.
He said appropriate authorities were duly informed saying we have made submissions to DSS, police and the state government officials about these federal government palliatives and the logic behind our decisions.
He argued that these are not SEMA palliatives, and no law says we must inform SEMA or the state government before bringing Federal Government palliatives into Benue. The requirement is to collaborate with SEMA for distribution.
Recall that I have severally informed the IDPs of these expected palliatives during my visits to them, which has taken over 6 months of constant writing and follow-up to achieve.
These relief materials include 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.
According to him, this will be the highest relief materials that would ever be delivered to IDPs in Kwande, and I will never relent in my efforts to attract even more dividends to our people.
All my efforts through calls and messages to the governor to personally explain and assure him of my good intentions were ignored, but I sincerely hope the issue can be resolved as soon as possible to enable us to continue the process of facilitating these relief materials to the peaceful and long-suffering people of Kwande/Ushongo.
