The Benue State Government has called on the transition team of the Governor-elect to cooperate with the outgoing administration for a smooth transition of power, instead of going to the press to raise unfounded alarms.
This call was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the Benue State Government Anthony Ijohor who stated in unequivocal terms that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not provide for a parallel government in any state.
Ijohor insists that Governor Samuel Ortom remains the Governor of the State till May 29, 2023, and he is expected to handover to the Governor-elect and not a transition committee.
The SSG therefore maintained that the demand made by the team of the Governor-elect is therefore unconstitutional and an aberration.
The Benue State Transition Committee already held its inaugural meeting where it was agreed that Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies will subsequently brief the Committee.
Ijohor was reacting to a press statement issued by the team constituted by the Benue State Governor-Elect in which the group accused the state Transition Committee put in place by the Governor of the State of delaying the presentation of handover notes to it.
The Governor-elect’s transition team headed by Mike Iordye had demanded among others for, “Comprehensive Handover Notes covering the period of the outgoing administration i.e. 2015 – 2023 for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Debt Profile and the state of finances of the State,updated employee list,comprehensive list of Internally Displaced Persons as well as tour of ongoing projects.
