Benue’s Lost Year Under Dissolved Cabinet 

*An Independent Investigative Review Of Alia Administration’s Executive Council

Governor Hyacinth Alia’s dissolution of his Executive Council may appear procedural, but for many Benue citizens, it was a belated admission of failure. The now-sacked commissioners were not technocrats nor reformers, rather they were placeholders, many without competence, and some tainted by allegations of corruption and self‑enrichment. This team didn’t just underperform, it dragged Benue backwards.

The Works and Housing Ministry under Hon. Tiza Imojime was a textbook case of incompetence. With no professional qualification or technical understanding, Imojime was sidelined in project processes and uninvolved in core decisions. In other states, Works Commissioners delivered legacy infrastructure; Benue had only abandoned sites and potholes. The thing only the Alia administration can remember Tiza for is the alleged money shared with Paul Biam, ₦500 million to the APC National Secretariat, that never achieved its mission. Paul Biam reportedly refused to refund, insisting “party monies are never refunded.” This scandal still hangs over Imojime’s legacy.

Barr. Omale Omale in Power and Transport, left no single power or transport milestone. Instead, he carried a reputation for diverting government resources, including foreign‑donated items, to his local government. The ministry, which should have powered development, became a personal fiefdom, ineffective and ethically bankrupt. The Benue Link refurbished vehicle programme he oversaw was scandalous: multiple fatal accidents due to brake failure, under‑declared vehicles promised from fuel subsidy removal proceeds, political harassment, intimidation, and even speaking portions of a brutal murder case of a young man in Apa Local Government, rumored to be indirectly connected to his political interest.

Ogwu Odoh, Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment & Climate Change, became the face of public disgust. Under his leadership, Makurdi devolved into the worst, stinking, refuse‑choked capital in its history. Sanitation collapsed and state‑funded water tankers were channelled through Isaiah Abba, his ally and rerouted through his wife’s POS business. Water vendors ( ‘Mai ruwa’) backyard arrangement with the said Abba skyrocketed, public water supply crumbled, all to sustain personal gain.

The academic qualification discrepancies of Ugwu is said to be well known to the governor, that made his appointment an indictment of Alia’s judgment. Donated water tanks by foreign partners were allegedly sold off, proceeds used to build him a personal house in Greener Estate, Sabo Lugbe, Abuja. Even rice palliatives meant for his local government, Ogbadibo, were sold off in Otukpo. Since his appointment, he has not visited to his local government.

Health under Dr.  Yanmar Ortese saw no reforms, no facility upgrades. Education under Frederick Ikyaan was plagued by conflicting statements and counter statements with public physical confrontation with the Director‑General of Quality Assurance, Dr Terna Francis, that has led total stagnation in the educational sector. While Kwaghba Amande in ICT delivered nothing, no platforms, no innovation, no digital policy and Matthew Aboh at Information was silent and invisible; he never informed the people, never defended government policy, never gave the people answers. Many suggested that, there is nothing in the administration worthy of publicity.

Aondowase Kunde’s Humanitarian Ministry failed miserably, relief materials meant for IDPs were diverted, crisis victims were neglected. His EFCC case was suspiciously buried, and to cover up the scandal the government quietly reassigned responsibilities to another commissioner.

Hon. Moses Ogbaji in Agriculture oversaw a ministry that should have driven Benue’s economy, yet suppliers of fertilizer were unpaid, and some suppliers reportedly died from debt. As a professional in an agrarian state, his failure was unforgivable.

Hon. Michael Oglegba at Finance, a known sports professional with no financial management experience, handled salary disbursements through his own fintech platform when official accounts were shut. Over ₦1 billion was claimed “recovered,” yet the state wage bill and monthly allowance from the Federation were/are never declared publicly. He’d been previously surreptitiously removed from a financial operations official office apartment due to spoilt allocations shared with his principal, yet returned to the treasury with no reform.

Martin Shaager, Lands Commissioner and a lawyer by training, never appeared in court or closed meaningful land deals. His rise was swift and his professional ruin followed, thanks to his misuse of office.

Ann Itodo left no real impact on women’s development, no programs, no empowerment, no policy shared similar fate with her colleagues.

Barr. Fidelis Mnyim, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, epitomised abuse of legal power. He spoke eloquently but delivered no justice reform. More dangerously, Mnyim led the attempted illegal removal of the Chief Judge of Benue State, an act condemned nationwide. It laid bare the administration’s desperation to control the judiciary and triggered calls for his professional suspension or disbarment. He has become a symbol of disregard for the rule of law.

Youth Commissioner Terkimbi Ikyange was equally hollow. A former Speaker, his proudest moment was a photo-op with the late President Buhari. Yet his tenure produced zero youth engagement, zero sports revival, zero creative programmes.

Nick Eworo (Science & Innovation) and Alumo Orpin (Commerce) led ministries that ran on autopilot, no innovation, no trade support, no results.

Together, they formed a council defined by incompetence, sycophancy and blind loyalty, not by service. Alia’s choices reflected a disturbing preference for allegiance over merit. Despite massive federal allocations over two years, Benue delivered no legacy project, no flagship reform, no visible progress. Where other states built roads, tech hubs, and agro-industrial zones, Benue’s administration clung to slogans and squandered its mandate.

This is the portrait of a failed era, one driven by self‑interest, not state interest. The citizens pray these individuals never return. Yet, the lurking fear is, they might, because they served power, not Benue. That fear encapsulates the tragic reality of Alia’s governance: control over competence, protection over progress.