By John Moses
Former Nigerian Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has strongly rejected allegations that his recent involvement in a development-focused tour in Benue State was part of a political maneuver to facilitate the defection of Governor Hyacinth Alia from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement he personally signed, Maku described the reports as “entirely false and malicious,” accusing political actors of misrepresenting a non-partisan initiative for their own ends.
“The suggestion that I took part in the Good Governance Tour in Benue State as part of a plan to convince Governor Alia to switch parties is completely baseless,” Maku stated. “This is a deliberate attempt to politicise a sincere and professional civic initiative.”
Maku clarified that the Good Governance Tour is a platform aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and public service by encouraging political leaders, regardless of party affiliation, to prioritise development and grassroots engagement over partisan rivalry.
He recalled that the idea originated during his tenure as Minister of Information, when he launched the National Good Governance Tour, a non-partisan effort to assess and highlight developmental strides across Nigerian states. The model, he said, was inspired by a similar initiative under Professor Jerry Gana during his own time as Minister of Information and National Orientation.
“During the original tour, I led delegations—including journalists—to states governed by various political parties. Many governors admitted that it challenged them to focus more seriously on their development agendas,” Maku explained.
He expressed concern over the current state of political discourse in Nigeria, which he described as being dominated by personal attacks, intra-party disputes, and a lack of constructive engagement on governance and service delivery.
It was in response to these concerns, Maku said, that he and other civic-minded professionals, including Dr Mike Omeri, former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, revived the Good Governance Tour as a tool for public accountability and civic engagement.
He confirmed that state leaders from different political backgrounds were approached to participate, with Governor Alia being the first to officially extend an invitation. “The Governor of Benue State welcomed us and showed great enthusiasm for the initiative,” Maku said.
Refuting the claims of a political motive behind the visit, Maku was unequivocal: “At no point during our mission in Benue did we discuss or attempt to influence the governor’s political allegiance. The notion of such a plot is a complete fabrication.”
He described Governor Alia as a leader genuinely committed to public service, not political scheming, and urged critics to refrain from misrepresenting efforts aimed at improving governance and accountability.
“This tour is about development, not defections,” Maku concluded.
