River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that there is a plot to disturb the contractor he engaged to reconstruct two roads in Benue State.

The governor had, on Sunday, revealed that he had elected to reconstruct Makurdi-Naka-Adoka road and Aliade-Oju-Obarike-Ito-Otukpo road in Benue State, as his contribution to alleviate the suffering of people of the state. He said the project would cost N4 billion.

Speaking yesterday, Wike said as he had mobilised the contractors to site, there are indications that some elements in the Benue State want to disturb the project.

Wike said: “We have mobilised the contractor to site, to reconstruct the two roads in Benue, but information reaching us indicate that there is plan to disturb the work. We want to get the road done as quickly as possible, but the plan to disturb the contractor is giving us some worries.

“Those who are planning this should bear in mind that they are working against development. The people of Benue, who use these roads, are suffering and we want to bring an end to this by reconstructing the roads. Those against the job should not be enemies of progress.”

The River State governor also said some people did not believe him when he said Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had failed in catering to the welfare of the people, but that the recent protest by pensioners in the state had vindicated him.

“You must have heard that pensioners protested in Benue. They protested because they are being owed pension arrears. I have been vindicated. The Benue State government has failed in its duties,” he said.

Wike had called for the imposition of a state of emergency in Benue State, over what he described as the state government’s show of incapability in handling security matters.

He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Governor Ortom over the use of Paris Club refund allocation.

The governor said despite the amount of money disbursed to Benue, the state government had not done much to cater for the needs of the people, hence the need for EFCC investigation.

“The EFCC should look into the Paris Club refund allocation to Benue State because there is paucity of infrastructure in the state. The governor should be asked to account for the money and other allocations he has received in nearly two years in office,” he said.

He said Benue people were suffering “because they don’t have dividends of democracy.”

Wike said it was because of the concern for the suffering of the Benue people and respect as well as value he has for elder statesmen from the state that he has elected to reconstruct Makurdi-Naka-Adoka road and Aliade-Oju-Obarike-Ito-Otukpo road.

According to him, the contracts would cost N4 billion, revealing that the roads’ ‘bill of quantity’ had been issued.

“I sympathise with the suffering of Benue people. I value and respect the likes J. S. Tarka, Apar Aku, George Akume, Victor Malu and David Mark, all prominent indigenes of the state. That’s why I am financing the reconstruction of the roads. I think there is need for a probe of the finances of the state.”

Wike had, last week, said declaration of a state of emergency in Benue had become necessary because Governor Ortom, had shown “ineptitude and lack of capacity to handle the situation.”

According to him, “you can’t have a governor watching helplessly, as his people are being killed. What kind of governor is that? He has displayed sheer laziness and incapacity in the whole issue, and this is quite unfortunate.”

The Rivers governor said although governors were not fully in charge of security in states, they are supposed to have strategies, working with security agencies, on how to combat crime.

“No excuse is acceptable for the high number of deaths in Benue,” he said

He said Benue had been in the news over wanton killings, which showed that the government had not done much in the area of security.

Comparing Benue and his state, Wike said: “We didn’t even have the kind of insecurity and killings that we are witnessing in Benue today when some of these mischievous opposition in Abuja were calling for state of emergency in Rivers, but now they have suddenly lost their voices. You can see their level of hypocrisy and mischief? I am calling for an urgent imposition of state of emergency in Benue, because there is a clear incapacity of the governor there to act decisively to stem the killings and tackle the problem.”

Justifying his call, Wike said: “When Rivers had security challenges, Ortom was among All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, who plotted for the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

“When the problem of insecurity started here in Rivers, instead of joining hands to proffer solutions, they politicised it. Unless all those at the forefront of the plot against the state repent, this insecurity will visit them one after another.”

Replying Wike last week, Governor Ortom said his Rivers counterpart should ask for a state of emergency in his state first, before talking about Benue.

Ortom, in an interview with newsmen, said: “If Wike wants state of emergency, he should first ask for it in Rivers. Leaders should be careful about what they say.

“I’m not his rival. His statements are unfortunate, but I will not join issues with him. I leave Wike to his conscience.”

Ortom said he never had any issues with Wike and recalled that the first time the Rivers governor took a swipe at him was when he was nominated by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to go for campaign in Rivers.

Governor Ortom, who enjoined his Rivers counterpart not to rejoice at his present predicament, said: “I pray God will help Wike succeed as a leader. I leave him to his conscience.”