Professor Joseph Alakali, immediate past Secretary to the Government of Benue State has responded to the video circulating online in which the governor of Benue at an occasion made some uncomplimentary comments against Alakali.
The Professor of agriculture gave the response through a signed press release made available to journalists in Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Saturday.
Alakali explained that since he was the immediate past SSG ‘Biro i Benue’ as described by Governor Hyacinth Alia, he felt obligated to make a statement that he is not a thief and has never been a thief and will never be one.
The erstwhile Secretary stressed that he remained grateful to God and to the Governor for the opportunity given to him to serve Benue State as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), noting that it’s on record that he did not approach the Governor to ask for the position of SSG in his government but believed that the decision to appoint him was based on the recommendations from HE’s trusted Benue people.
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“To this I remain indebted to him, as a matter of fact, my appointment was greeted with much excitement in the Benue community, adding huge credibility to the new government.”
Alakali stressed that he served the governor and Benue State with utmost commitment as SSG from May 30, 2023 to September 9, 2024 (one year, four months) during which he kept to his oath of office and always conscious of being accountable to God, the Benue people and humanity.
Alakali, who emphasized that stealing is not in his character categorically dissociated himself and took exception to the content of the video that referenced the former SSG as a perpetual thief that was in the government. “I am not a thief and I did not sell government information.
“I voluntarily resigned in 2017 as Professor of Food Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture then when I still had 14 years of service. I am currently an Adjunct Professor to the BSU World Bank Centre of Excellence. I am a sound Academic with over 1000 citation (over 1000 researchers globally have cited my works in their research. I received a commendation from Google Scholar in this regards). In the two institutions, both located in Makurdi and others elsewhere, I have taught and supervised several BSc, MSc and PhD students. I also headed a Department, College and Directorates in the universities. I have interacted wildly with many staff and students over the years. In the private sector, I have schools and a publishing company that writes, publishes and markets in Nigeria: Nursery, Primary and Junior Secondary School books in almost all subjects. The first and only company so far that has translated primary school books into the major indigenous languages in Nigeria. These engagements have given me the opportunity to interact widely with people who can attest to my character. I am actually a public figure in my right if you want.
“I have always fulfilled my duties without taking bribes or misappropriating public funds.
It is on record that I refunded N75million to the Benue government coffers as funds that were left after payment of the Navy land compensation. The committee I chaired and supervised the disbursement to land owners when I was SSG. The Governor and EXCO is aware of this. I never collected money from any contractor for discharging my obligations which were a must before any Exco approved contract could be executed.
“I am surprised by the accusations, especially regarding the Immigration Passport. This matter came up in February 2024, and was handled then. I did not bribe anybody because I was not at fault. I have explained the details about this to the governor that if there was anything fishy about passport, it would have been that my signature was forged by some criminals.
“Let me put it on record that I have never sold any single Benue passport or government information, God bearing me witness. What could I actually have gotten from such?”
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