The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, to demonstrate his capacity to manage the state’s resources rather than merely criticising the administration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
The party’s reaction followed Aondoakaa’s appearance on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, during which he criticised the state’s overhead expenditure and proposed drastic cuts to free up funds for debt repayment.
The APC maintained that anyone seeking to govern Benue State must offer practical solutions backed by facts and a clear understanding of the state’s financial responsibilities.
The party described Aondoakaa’s proposal as incomplete, noting that he had not adequately explained which expenditure items he intended to cut, how much the state would save or how essential government services would continue under his proposed plan.
The APC stressed that criticising government spending was not enough to establish competence.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yaweh, the APC said, “A serious governorship candidate must demonstrate how public resources can be managed better through practical proposals, sound financial planning and measurable results.”
The party also questioned the basis of Aondoakaa’s claims of superior managerial ability, insisting that his own record should be open to scrutiny, just as he demanded accountability from the present administration.
It noted that Aondoakaa had been associated with private business interests, including Miva Rice, Old Barn Hotel and filling stations.
The APC raised questions about the current status and management of these businesses, asking whether they were still operational and, if so, how effectively they were being managed.
The APC argued that if any of the ventures had been sold, closed or suffered a significant decline, the circumstances deserved clarification. It maintained that Aondoakaa should be prepared to explain his business record before asking the people of Benue to entrust him with the management of the state’s resources.
