Tarzoor urges Ortom, Wike to exercise restraint in comments on Alia, Benue

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Namibia, Terhemen Tarzoor, has called on former Governor Samuel Ortom and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to exercise restraint in their public comments on Governor Hyacinth Alia and the state’s finances.

Tarzoor made the call while speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday, faulting what he described as inappropriate remarks by Ortom during a recent television programme, particularly the reported description of Governor Alia as a “419” and “a fake Reverend Father,” as well as his reference to some Benue people as “shenanigans.”

The former lawmaker said political disagreements should not justify the use of language capable of undermining the office of the governor or denigrating the people of the state.

Tarzoor, who coordinates the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) campaign for President Bola Tinubu in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections, urged Ortom to demonstrate restraint when commenting on the incumbent administration.

“My take is that the former governor is not in the position to call the number one citizen 419. He has no right to call him that,” he said.
Describing Ortom as an elder brother whom he respects, Tarzoor said he was concerned that political differences were increasingly being expressed in ways capable of heightening tensions in the state.

He also faulted the former governor’s reported comments on the administration of the Catholic Church, arguing that Ortom lacked sufficient knowledge of the Church’s accountability mechanisms to make such assertions.

Tarzoor was reacting to Ortom’s reported comparison of Governor Alia’s administration with the management of a parish, in which the former governor allegedly suggested that priests collected and spent money without adequate accountability.

“As a Knight of St. John International, I want to disabuse his mind and the minds of people who listened to that programme that there is a high level of accountability in the Catholic Church,” he said.

He explained that the Church operated administrative structures designed to ensure accountability, including church councils, elders and laity councils, which provide oversight and promote responsible management of church resources.

“There is no Catholic priest that can just earn money and spend at ease in the Catholic Church. I, therefore, say Ortom does not have the equipage to pontificate on such a subject matter,” Tarzoor said.

He urged political leaders to be cautious when commenting on religious institutions, warning against statements that could be interpreted as attacks on their administration or integrity.

Tarzoor also faulted what he described as an unfair comparison between Ortom’s eight-year administration and Alia’s government, which he said had served for about three years.

He argued that a fair assessment of both administrations should take into account their respective periods in office, available resources and development priorities before drawing conclusions about their performances.

The former ambassador further condemned Ortom’s reported description of some Benue people as “shenanigans,” saying the language was unbecoming of a political leader who had benefited from the electorate’s support.
“I see that as repugnant. I see that as unbefitting of a personality who has benefited enormously from the votes of Benue people all his life,” he said.

He urged Ortom to separate his disagreements with the incumbent administration from his responsibility to respect the people of the state.
“If he has issues, he should apply the right language, apply decorum in the manner to address matters.

That is the only legacy we can leave for our children, those yet unborn, and not to talk down on someone in the person of the governor because you are bitter,” Tarzoor said.

On Wike’s reported comments concerning federal allocations to Benue State and the need for the government to disclose its income and expenditure, Tarzoor questioned what he described as the minister’s selective interest in the state’s finances.

He wondered why the FCT minister appeared to be focusing on Benue without making similar demands concerning revenue accruing to other states.
“Has he spoken about the one coming to Nasarawa, or the one going to Rivers State? Has he published the one in Rivers? Has he published the one in Kano?” he asked.

While acknowledging that public revenue and expenditure were legitimate matters of accountability, Tarzoor insisted that such scrutiny should be consistent and pursued through appropriate channels rather than being driven by political exchanges.

He maintained that the Alia administration was open to public scrutiny, noting that citizens could request government records through established legal procedures, including the Freedom of Information framework.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia is open to all criticisms. The law is clear on freedom of information. You test it; the records will be there for you to see,” he said.

Tarzoor, however, cautioned against what he described as uncoordinated demands for financial information, arguing that legitimate enquiries should be handled through the appropriate government agencies to enable officials to focus on governance.

He urged the media to strengthen accountability by seeking accurate information from relevant government institutions and presenting verified facts to the public, rather than relying solely on political exchanges.