AS the rift between Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Senator George Akume deepens, the governor has described the statement issued by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) as hypocrisy of the highest order.
The APC, through its publicity secretary, Peterhot Apeh had on Thursday issued a statement that the party only advised the governor on good governance but he eventually gave himself a red card.
Apeh explained that, in return for the endorsement by the State chapter of the party, APC in the state on behalf of the people demanded for the improved welfare and good governance from the governor.
The statement read in part; the demands became necessary due to the fact that despite several interventions by the Federal Government in forms of bailouts, Paris Club Refunds, budgetary supports, coupled with the huge borrowings by his administration among others, the state is still clouded with huge salary arrears and unpaid pensions of retired civil servants, huge deficits of basic infrastructure and porous security situation bedeviling the state.
The governor in his reaction through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said it was on record that APC in Benue State had, on many occasions, passed vote of confidence on him as a result of his performance.
“During the State Congress of the party at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, it adopted the governor as its consensus candidate. Again, the party publicly said its decision was based on the sterling stewardship of Governor Ortom within the last three years.
“ But being the true democrat that he is, the Governor decided that other aspirants should be allowed to vie for the governorship seat to deepen internal democracy in the party.
The statement further read, ‘We challenge APC in Benue State to bring out facts to back their claim that they had faulted the performance of the Governor. We equally challenge the party to make public, evidence regarding their claims that bailout funds and Paris Club refund were diverted.”
While appreciating the platform APC gave him to offer service to the people of Benue State, the governor lamented that it was regrettable that the same party had now turned to demonise him for obvious selfish reasons.”
“Governor Ortom has encouraged regular caucus and other stakeholders’ meetings at which he constantly gave briefings about the security and financial challenges in the state.
“He also got feedback and input at such meetings.
The statement further stated that the governor’s successful conduct of the local government elections where APC candidates overwhelmingly won chairmanship and councillorship positions throughout the state was a proof of the popularity of his administration.
“There has really been no need for the party to raise governance issues with Governor Ortom because he gives the leaders and the state working committee regular briefings at meetings and platforms mentioned above.
“Besides, the governor announces to the people of the state receipts of monies and expenditures.
“Governor Ortom gave the people of the state information about the bailout, Paris Club refunds and all other federal government interventions and explained how they could not meet all the final obligations with respect to payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions.
“The claim by the APC that such matters were raised at the last State Congress or at a secret forum is therefore not tenable, misleading and insincere.
“The APC State Congress was conducted in the public domain and issues of governance were not raised at the meeting.
“It may also be necessary to point out that the last State Congress was not convened for the purpose of endorsing or electing the Governor, Senators and other representatives in the state or National Assembly.
It is therefore absurd for anyone to make heavy wind out of an endorsement that has no legal backing and cannot be relied upon.
At no time did Governor Ortom ever mention that the APC in Benue State gave him a red card.
He stated categorically that it was the leader of the party who said at several fora that he had given him red card.
The Governor made efforts to resolve the matter within the structure of the party at the state level before going public.
“That APC in the state has issued the statement as if it is the leader of the party or as if they are one and the same, underscores Governor Ortom’s concern that the party structure in the state is out to satisfy the whims and caprices of one individual.
It is now clear that APC in Benue State has opted to mortgage the interest of the people of the state. The party’s unprovoked attack on Governor Ortom points to where its interest lies.
“More ridiculous is the fact that APC has become a one man show in Benue State. It should be on record that the attacks on Governor are coming now because he couldn’t meet some inordinate personal ambitions and interests of those who want to perpetually shortchange the people.
“The media attack on Governor Ortom by the state chapter of APC is the beginning of the smear campaign about which we alerted Benue people and other Nigerians. More of such disparaging statements should be expected in the days to come.
“However, no amount of intimidation or personal attacks can make the Governor to abandon the people of Benue State. He has chosen to stand with the people and won’t be distracted now or in the future,” the governor added.
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