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The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula, has issued a strong rebuttal to criticisms from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, describing their recent public commentary as a “sad commentary” that ignores verifiable facts and ongoing transformation across the state.
In a detailed statement released on January 27, 2026, titled “Benue Media Tour: Beyond the Lamentations of Naysayers (II),” Kula emphasized that the Ali administration remains firmly committed to accountability, fiscal responsibility, and continuous improvement. He rejected suggestions that acknowledging visible progress or facilitating independent media assessments amounts to propaganda, insisting that the people of Benue deserve both facts and fair representation.
Kula highlighted several key achievements he described as unprecedented and directly observable:
– Massive recruitment exceeding 9,000 personnel across sectors, injecting fresh manpower into public service
– Construction of multi-storey buildings in primary schools for the first time in the state’s history
– Transformation of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) into a medical tourist centre, complete with upgrades including a digitized VIP clinic
– Renovation of over 100 primary healthcare centres statewide
– Establishment of a brewery and a fruit juice company, marking significant strides in commerce and industrialization
– Completion of Phase 1 (16 inner-city roads) and Phase 2 (25 roads) in Makurdi with clear-cut drainages, witnessed and verified by visiting media teams
– Successful intervention in ecological management that prevented flooding displacement in Idye, Makurdi, in 2025, and protected shops at Wurukum market
He further pointed to “Operation Light Up Makurdi,” which has properly illuminated streets in the state capital, and ongoing efforts in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and agricultural support as evidence of tangible development.
The Chief Press Secretary stressed that the administration has consistently made information on projects, budgets, procurement processes, and sectoral interventions available through official channels, public briefings, and direct engagement. He described the recent media tour involving senior media executives as an exercise in openness and transparency, allowing independent professionals to witness projects firsthand rather than relying solely on government-issued statements or statistics.
Kula dismissed claims of vagueness or lack of substantiation, noting that development must be demonstrated physically, measurably, and accessibly—not proclaimed through press releases alone. He welcomed constructive criticism and data-driven discourse but rejected selective skepticism that overlooks visible realities.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the administration’s focus on correcting inherited structural challenges, strengthening institutions, and ensuring public resources deliver lasting, measurable impact. It positioned Governor Alia’s leadership as one grounded in intellectual depth, openness, engagement, and a willingness to subject facts to public scrutiny without fear.
The response comes amid heightened political discourse in Benue as the state prepares for future electoral cycles, with both the ruling APC and opposition PDP intensifying efforts to shape public perception of the current administration’s performance.
