The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it termed the unrelenting onslaught against Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
PDP’s comment was in reaction to an incident in which Governor Ortom was locked out of the Makurdi Airforce Base where he had gone, upon formal invitation, to receive the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
The party alleged that the action was another vicious attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embarrass, harass, and unsettle Governor Ortom and sustain the “terrorisation of the people of Benue State in the desperation to take away their constitutional and ancestral heritage.”
PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Tuesday, explained that Governor Ortom, upon formal invitation, cancelled his official engagements to accord the Vice-President, who landed at the Makurdi Airforce Base en route Taraba State, the necessary respect in line with protocols applicable to the office. The governor was denied access into the Airforce Base to meet the Vice-President.
Ologunagba argued that the Buhari Presidency cannot deny involvement in this “pre-meditated and provocative act because all arms of the Armed Forces, including the Airforce, are under the authority and control of the Commander-in-Chief, who is the head of the executive arm to which the Vice-President also belongs.
The PDP dismissed the belated apologies by Vice-President Osinbajo and the excuse of communication gap as an afterthought.
According to the party, the reported suspension of an officer over the despicable act is “an attempt to pull the wool in the face of Nigerians, consistent with the action of the APC in matters requiring transparency and independent public inquiry.
The party through its spokesman demanded an immediate public investigation to unravel the real brains behind the action against the governor as well as ensure that such desecration of public office is not encouraged or condoned.