Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has voiced strong criticism regarding how Governor Hyacinth Alia manages Benue State. During an appearance on the African Independent Television programme Democracy Today, the senator alleged that the governor centralizes authority, leaving his appointees with little actual power. Moro described the current administrative structure as feeling more like a church where orders originate from a single individual rather than a collaborative government.
According to the Benue South representative, the governor has effectively sidelined his cabinet members by assuming the roles of the Accountant General, Commissioner of Finance, and Commissioner of Works. Moro encouraged the public to investigate whether political appointees in the state possess any real influence or decision-making capacity. He specifically highlighted issues surrounding the government’s response to internally displaced persons. The senator recounted instances where commissioners lacked the financial autonomy to address humanitarian crises effectively, such as a donation of only ₦150,000 to be split between three camps. Furthermore, Moro noted that the Deputy Governor reportedly struggled to provide ₦1 million for security forces, labeling the overall situation as unfortunate.
