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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • NPFL: Our tears have been washed away – Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom said with the victory of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi in the Nigeria Professional Football League trophy the tears of Benue people have been wash away.

    Ortom who received management and players of Lobi stars who had been declared winner of the NPFL said with the league trophy Benue shall arise for bigger victory in development.

    The Governor who almost shed tears when he was informed by the chairman and vice chairman of the club that the Makurdi premier league side had been declared champion commended both the deputy governor, Engineer Benson Abouno, Mike Idoko, Solomon Ogbeide and his players for the feat.

    Vice chairman of Lobi stars in his remark commended Governor Ortom for his support to the club which made the victory possible.

    Read Also: Ortom condemns impunity against journalists

    Mike Idoko like Oliver twist called for more assistant to the club in the area  of logistics and payment of match bonuses pending .

    He assured the governor that Lobi stars would go all out to bring the CAF Champions League  trophy to Nigeria .

    Deputy Governor who is the chairman of Lobi stars described Solomon Ogbeide as a good coach and good manager of coaches and players.

    The deputy governor stated that since Ogbeide resumed as a Technical Adviser, Lobi stars has remained on top league table.

    Former Lobi stars Vice chairman Dominic Iorfa and members of the Benue state Executive councils join Lobi players in Government House Makurdi to savour in the victory celebration.

  • Ortom to Akume: showcase your achievements, leave me alone

    Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised Sen. George Akume to showcase his achievements in his 11 years sojourn as senator, “instead of castigating me at every opportunity”.

    “Akume should showcase his score card. He has been in the senate for more than 11 years and the constituents want to hear what he has done.

    “He appears obsessed with abusing me every minute; that is not what the people want to hear,” Ortom told newsmen on Monday in Makurdi.

    The governor spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, at a special interaction with newsmen.

    “The man (Akume) keeps insulting me at every turn. But, while he is raising questions about me, more questions are being raised about whether he has been an asset or liability to the people,” he said.

    He also criticised a situation where politicians arrogate divine powers to themselves, stressing that only God had the power to decide the fate of man.

    “Nobody should boast that he can make someone governor. Only God can do that. Mr Aper Aku became the first civilian governor of Benue without anyone’s support. Rev. Fr Moses Adasu moved from the Church to the Government House without a political godfather.

    Read Also: My life under threat, says Ortom

    “So, it is wrong for anyone to claim that he made me governor and could unseat me,” he said.

    The governor dismissed claims that he recently gave N2 billion to PDP’s eight governorship candidates, and wondered where such money could have come from.

    He also rejected claims that he was afraid to contest the PDP governorship tickets with other aspirants, pointing out that he ran the entire PDP governorship primary before moving to the APC to pick its ticket in 2014.

    Ortom alleged that Akume was struggling to pit him against PDP governorship aspirants because he rejected the automatic ticket offered by the APC.

    “PDP will not force Ortom on its members. Let all aspirants canvass for votes from the delegates and refrain from media wars,” he said.

  • Herdsmen: FG begins construction of affected communities

    Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday, flagged off the reconstruction of some selected destroyed public infrastructure in some communities affected by the attacks by herdsmen in Benue State.

    The Governor called on the federal government to address head-on, the problem of insecurity that gave rise to the killings of people and destruction of public and private properties.

    Governor Ortom, who flagged-off the long-awaited work reconstruction work at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Gbajimiba, one of the 28 projects to be reconstructed in the state by the federal government in partnership with the Benue State government, called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to hurriedly stop the work of “operation whirl stroke” but rather, to empower the military more to eliminate the threat of attacks on the communities.

    He also adversed the federal government as a matter of urgency restore the needed peace and stability that would lead to the return of the internally displaced people to their homes. .

    Represented by his deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu, Governor Ortom expressed delight at the response by the Victims Support Fund (VSF) led by Gen. Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) to his request for help in reconstructing the damaged public and private infrastructures

    He demanded that the work, expected to be carried out in 21 communities, spread over Guma, Logo and Agatu local government areas in the first instance will reach other communities affected by the attacks.

    Read Also: Ortom restates call for Intelligence gathering

    While appreciating the VSF for the 5 Health Clinics to be built in the state, Governor Ortom appealed to them to also provide the required equipment to enable the State government take over their running.

    The Executive Director, VSF, Prof Sunday Ochoche disclosed that on the basis of the request for assistance by Governor Ortom, and an assessment visit to the state in March, the Committee approved the construction of 23 classroom blocks and 5 comprehensive medical centers in the 3 local government areas.

    He stated that the projects, which cost N700m are expected to be completed within 3 months and called on the local communities to see them as their own projects and give their support to the contractors to enable them execute the work within the time frame.

    Dr. Magdalene Dura, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Development Cooperation, SDGs and NEPAD, and Rev. Dr Phillip Tachin, Executive Secretary, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in their separate goodwill messages, thanked the federal government for the intervention, but called for more to be done given the magnitude of the destruction caused in the state.

    The VSF team led by its vice chairman, Tijani Tumsah had earlier paid a courtesy visit on Governor Samuel Ortom before proceeding to Gbajimba.

  • Ortom restates call for Intelligence gathering

    Governor Samuel Ortom has restated his call on the people of the state to assist the security agencies to fight crime through intelligence gathering.

    He said this in Chito, Ukum Local Government Area at the late burial of Pa David Ashaver, father of his former Special Adviser on revenue and taxation, Mr. Benjamin Ashaver.

    The Governor lamented the spate of criminality including assassinations and kidnapping in the area and blamed it on some wayward youths whom he said had become a clog in the wheel of development of their communities.

    He noted that he, in collaboration with religious and traditional leaders had done everything under the law to ensure peace in the Sankera axis and Benue at large including disarming those in possession of illegal weapons.

    Governor Ortom however regretted that some of the youth who willingly returned their arms later returned to the wild and were perpetrating various forms of atrocities in the society.

    He urged people of the area to be bold and volunteer information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminals in their communities, stressing that it was only by doing so that they could complement government efforts towards addressing insecurity.

    Governor Ortom condoled his former appointee and the entire Ashaver family over the death and described the chief mourner, Dr Benjamin Ashaver as a trusted ally with whom he a good working relationship.

    Read Also: Prove your claims, Ortom challenges Oshiomhole

    Former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, represented by member of the State Assembly, Dr Kester Kyenge, Senator Barnabas Gemade, represented by for Logo council chairman, Mr Mike Kondoun, in separate orations extolled the virtues of the deceased.

    Member representing Sankera Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Udende, prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Royal fathers in the area, Chiefs Orkaa Kaave and Demekpe Ijah, as well as Chairman of Ukum local government council, Mr. Iber Logo, while praying God to console the bereaved family, also appealed to Governor Ortom to consider the grading of Sankera-Chito-Vaase road to ease movement in the area.

    In a funeral service, Director NKST Media Services Mkar, Reverend Terungwa Awen, charged Christians to obey Biblical injunctions in preparation for God’s judgment, while the chief mourner,

    Mr. Benjamin Ashaver, expressed appreciation to Governor Ortom and all those who found time to mourn with them in their bereavement.

  • Prove your claims, Ortom challenges Oshiomhole

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has challenged the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole to prove his claims of mismanagement of Benue bail out and Paris Club refunds.

    Ortom accused Oshiomhole of making “astonishing, unsubstantiated, wild and wide allegations relating to the issue of allocation and payment of salaries, security votes expenditure and the insecurity in Benue State.

    The governor, who spoke in an August 6 letter written by his counsel, Samuel Irabor, alleged that the ex-Edo Governor Oshiomhole made libellous statements against him at a press conference on July 27.

    He demanded that Oshiomhole should write a “letter of retraction/apology addressed to our client in respect of the false, defamatory and libelous statement made against him in the sponsored press conference herein complained of.

    “That the said retraction/apology be simultaneously published in the Sunday edition of 10 National Dailies circulating within Benue State as well as a paid advertorial to the same effect on the prime time beats of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Channels TV, TVC News, African Independent Television (AIT), Independent Television (ITV) Benin, Radio Nigeria, Radio Benue and Harvest FM, Makurdi.

    “An undertaking not to indulge in any such false publication against our client in future, payment of N10Billion as punitive, general, exemplary and aggravated damages.”

    He warned that should the APC Chairman fail to meet the terms within seven days he should be prepared to defend a libel suit.

    According to the Benue governor, Oshiomhole’s statements were an attempt to “regain political mileage” following Ortom’s recent exit from the APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He claimed that since he exercised his “political freedom” by moving to a party that guaranteed safety for his kinsmen, Oshiomhole had embarked on a campaign of hatred and propaganda against him.

    Ortom described as false and offensive, “your allegations that our client has confessed to sharing Benue State money with party leaders and that despite collection of bail out and Paris Club refund monies.”

    Read Also: ‘Ortom’s defection won’t affect APC’s chances in Benue’

    He also took offense to a statement credited to Oshiomhole that “Governor Ortom has not and is not paying salaries… the vicious circle of poverty in Benue State has been deepened under Gov. Ortom”.

    Ortom added: “By deducible analysis, it is also your allegation that our client is responsible for the killings in Benue State, specifically the unfortunate killing of two Catholic priests and their parishioners in Mbalom community which sad event occurred on the morning of 24th April, 2018.

    “It is noteworthy that in the entire web of false accusations that you weaved against our client, you could not bring yourself to mention a single Benue person or any other person for that matter from whom you sourced your false narratives. For the records, the principles of law grounding liability for defamation and libel do not exculpate tale bearers from liability for the reason that the tales they bear are not original to them.

    “It is the complaint of our client that the false and offensive publication has deeply injured his reputation by portraying him in literal, unequivocal and unambiguous terms as a dishonest, fraudulent and violent person who has not only diverted the various intervention funds meant for salaries and arrears by sharing same with party leaders but is also an accomplice to the killings in Benue State.

    “It was in this parlous state that the Samuel Ortom led administration applied for the said N69 billion as bailout funds but it received N28 billions of which N12.5 billion was meant for the state and the balance of it was meant for the Local Government Areas. After carrying out staff verification, the State paid four months arrears for January 2015 – April 2015 and was able to save N1.6 Billion as a positive consequence of the verification exercise. Unfortunately the N1.6 billion saved from the verification exercise was garnished by the workers of Taraku Mills Ltd who had earlier secured judgment at the National Industrial Court before our client became Governor.

    “On the issue of Paris Club refund, the expenditure profile by the Benue State Government is also in the public domain as our client, in the spirit of transparency, probity, honesty and accountability, has variously engaged the Benue people through several interactive sessions entailing phone-in programmes vide the state media. The records show that the first tranche of Paris Club refund amounting to N12.7 billion was received in December, 2016 and used in facilitating two months salaries across board. The second tranche came in June 2017 amounting to N6.4 billion and was also used to offset salary, pension and gratuities while the Benue State Government in agreement with the Labour Congress in Benue State took an overdraft of N8 billion in anticipation of the third tranche which was also utilized to settle indebtedness to workers.”

    According to Ortom, the only inference to draw is that Oshiomhole’s “unproven allegation was informed by a dangerously cultivated, albeit unwarranted malice” against him.

     

  • Benue faults EFCC’s N23bn claim

    … Ortom will be exonerated – Aide

    The Benue State Government on Saturday faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over its claim that over N23billion in state accounts was withdrawn and diverted.

    It asked the anti-graft agency to stop publishing figures without stating how impropriety has been established.

    The state government accused EFCC of now acting like a strike squad of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and boasted that any genuine, fair, just and equitable investigation would surely exonerate Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The government disclosed these in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase.

    He said: “After succumbing to nationwide condemnation of its illegal freezing of Benue State Government accounts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resorted to yet another shameful act in its desperation to cripple governance in the state.

    “The anti-graft agency’s latest move is the bandying of figures in national dailies claiming that such figures are those of transactions in the accounts owned by the Benue State Government.

    “In The Nation Newspaper of Saturday, August 11, 2018, EFCC claimed among other things that a staff of the Benue State Government whose name it gave as ‘Agbo Amada’ has been sacked ‘to avoid making him available for interrogation.’

    “The Commission could not disclose where the said government staff worked before he was sacked obviously because such a person does not exist.”

    The state government challenged the EFCC to release more details if it has its facts right.

     

     

  • EFCC victimizing Ortom, says media aide

    The Benue state government has condemned the freezing of the state’s account by the Economic and  Financial Crimes commission (EFCC).

    Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, in a statement said that the governor is being victimized.

    EFCC had reportedly frozen Benue government’s account for alleged diversion of N23, 088, 586, 206.

    Reacting to this, Akase stated that Ortom runs a transparent administration and has not diverted funds.

    “Benue has suffered heavy attacks by Fulani herdsmen since the beginning of the year. Within the period, the State Government has spent a lot to legitimately support security agencies to protect the people of the state. Governor Ortom has not diverted funds. He runs a transparent administration.”

    He described the act as a political witch-hunt against Governor Ortom. “Yes, it is true that accounts of the Benue State Government have been frozen by EFCC. It is part of the political witch-hunt against Governor Samuel Ortom.” Akase said.

    Read Also: BEHIND the storm against Ortom

    “The action of EFCC is already having negative impact on the running of government in Benue State. It is a move that will affect salaries, pensions and other sundry payments.

    “The question we are asking is; why did EFCC not investigate the Governor’s security votes when he was still a member of APC? Why start the investigation now?

    “EFCC should not allow itself to be used as an attack dog unleashed against perceived political opponents.

    “Let the Federal Government tell us how much it has spent on prosecuting the fight against Boko Haram and how much it spent on the other operations such as Python Dance, Crocodile Smile and Whirl Stroke.

    “We welcome the investigation, but as I said earlier, it should start from the Presidency and go across the 36 states. Benue should not be singled out for victimization, intimidation and harassment as the Federal Government with its agencies is currently doing.“

  • ‘Ortom’s defection won’t affect APC’s chances in Benue’

    Former Benue State Deputy Governor Stephen Lawani is a senatorial aspirant in Benue South District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with James Azania, he speaks on his ambition, Governor Samuel Ortom’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the chances of the party in next year’s general election.

    Governor Samuel Ortom has defected to the PDP from your party. Don’t you think his defection will affect the party in the state?

    It will not affect our party at all because the APC is deeply rooted in Benue State without Ortom. Infact, it was because he knew that we are not satisfied because of the way and manner he is running the state and may not get a second term that forced him out of the party. So, we are not bothered at all. President Buhari will win Benue and APC will retain the governorship after the 2019 general elections. Ortom or no Ortom cannot stop our victory. If you observe, all those defecting are doing so because they lost out in the politics of their various states and it is not different in Benue State. Let me also say that the issue of people wanting to defect is a natural thing in politics. People come there with expectations and when they don’t get what they want, they tend to leave. Not everybody come into politics to serve their people. Many come for their selfish interest and that is what is playing out now. Most of them are complaining because what they expected did not come and for me, service to the people should be our primary aim. But, I am happy this is coming at a time we have Comrade Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party. This is a wise choice because I know Oshiomhole very well. When he was governor of Edo State, I was deputy governor of Benue State and I enjoyed working with him then. His wonderful contribution in the National Executive Council and how he turned Edo State, around made him the best choice for this job. So I strongly believed he will do a wonderful job which he has started by winning Ekiti State, which was his first election. And I watched his press conference the other day and he gave reasons why Fayose was not the best for Ekiti people. So, I have no doubt that Oshiomhole will quell all these rebellions in the party and lead the party to victory in 2019.

    Are you saying that implosion in APC will not affect the chances of President Buhari?

    My position is that everything possible should be done to prevent the implosion as Oshiomhole is working hard to do. But again, you can take a horse to the stream but you cannot force it to drink water. I support the effort being made by our national chairman and President Buhari to stop people from defecting. I am happy that the leadership of the party are listening to their grievances and working hard to find solution, the national chairman is working hard on that. But at the end of the day, some will stay while some will leave. It is unfortunate that these things are coming up now but I can tell you categorically that President Buhari will be re-elected. Never mind all the nonsense you read in the social media and most of the people on social media don’t even have voting cards. So we have no fear over Buhari’s re-election. As a person, not even the party, Buhari has over 10million votes. Then, when you talk about party members who definitely will vote for their party, it will be over 15million votes and when you add everything together nobody will defeat him. What we are experiencing now as crisis is attempt by some people to gain relevance in the system and to get better negotiation. But not as if it will affect the re-election of President Buhari.

    What about the killings in Benue will it not affect the APC?

    They are various explanations that have been given about the happenings in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and Plateau. But these killings did not start under Buhari, it has been there even when Jonathan was President. I think the problem only increased and if not the proactive actions of this President it would have been worst by now. Let me also state that these killings are not a creation of the Federal Government. If you know how herdsmen behave, they are unforgiven and when you hurt them ten years ago, they always come for revenge. Apart from that, we have discovered that there are criminal elements posing as herdsmen who are perpetrating this evil. Intelligence is showing that people who feels that the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government is hitting at them, are fighting back using these criminal means to destroy the name of this administration. These politicians are sponsoring these killings, but that is why we are appealing to security agencies to fish them out. The opposition is sponsoring mayhem against this government. But I hope that the strategies being deployed by the President Buhari led administration to check the excesses of these miscreants will stop these killings. It is not true that the killings in Benue will affect the chances of the APC in Benue State. That fear is coming from those who are not in the state that does not know what is happening. What happened was painful, but we will explain to the people during our campaigns and they will understand when we tell them the truth. That will not be a problem because our people knows those who are sincere in working for the people and the pretenders and I can tell you they will not vote on lies being told on social media.

    Why I want to go to the Senate

    This game of politics is service to the people. I was deputy governor, but my boss. Former Governor Gabriel Suswan had my ears. So, I was able to serve my people very well. When I was deputy governor, I attracted roads to my area, gave the town a new look, water was provided. I did a good number of things not only in Oturukpo, but other Local Government Areas in my geo-political zone. And our people does not forget easily and that why I am optimistic that they will remember what I did and give the opportunity to service them again. I want to go there to serve my people. I contested in 1997 and won. Haven served as deputy governor for eight years, I feel I should run for the senate. So I am in the race and I believe that I will get the blessings of my party and fly their flag and deliver victory for the APC.

    PDP is regrouping to take over power from the APC, do you have fears?

    PDP lacks the capacity to win the 2019 general elections. How many states do they have? APC has 23 states now. With the victory in Ekiti, it is now 24. So, even if one or two governors defect, APC will still be left with 23 states. So, we have nothing to fear. PDP will have to wait for another twenty years not 2019.

    Being a Sportsman

    I was a sportsman. I played Nigeria under 23 then we call it academic football and also played cricket at the national level, I played the principals cup, I participated in the West African University games, I represented Nigeria at that level. But now we are getting old so I concentrate on table tennis at this level. I am also a supporter of the Nigeria Football team infact was supposed to be in Moscow for the World cup to support our team but due to politics at home I was not able to make it.

  • Makarfi: Defectors will add value toPDP

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant Senator Ahmed Makarfi has said that defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be given a sense of belonging.

    He said in a statement by his media aide, Muktha Siraju that the coast is clear the victory of PDP in next year’s polls.

    Makarfi hailed Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Samuel Ortom, Abdulfatal Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal;  senators, members of the House of Representatives and  House of Assembly who have returned to the PDP.

    He said the party has a large  umbrella to accommodate and and provide security to  Nigerians at this most difficult time in national history.

    Makarfi said: “As the former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, I fought long and hard to ensure that democracy did not perish in Nigeria. Idid so even at risk to my life because I believes that the Peoples Democratic Party is the only party founded on the very basic principles of democracy, justice, equity, fairness and the rule of law.

    “I always believe that the rebranded and repositioned PDP offers opportunity for all who have the will to take it.

    “I fought even harder to create an environment where members could thrive and develop to their God given potential by laying emphasis on openness, fairness, justice and inclusion.”

    Makarfi said the 2019 election is  critical to national survival, adding that intimidation and harassment of political opponents, impunity in government, insecurity, and poverty should end.

    He added: ‘ This is why I am is gladdened on the news of the return back to the fold of these our brothers and sisters  and the other democrats who decided to move in the right direction.

    “I congratulate them all and offers a hand of fellowship and cooperation to all of them, to work together, to rescue our country, save our democracy, preserve the legacy of our heroes past, restore our prosperity and secure our security at this crucial period.”

  • Benue youths challenge Ortom to public debate on achievements

    Young stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have challenges the state Governor, Samuel Ortom to a public debate on his achievements for the past three and half years, saying his new party, the PDP is aware that he has lost electoral value to get a return ticket.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Convener of the Idoma Young Stakeholders Forum Dominic Alancha said the Governor was aware that the people of the state will reject in the 2019 General election, and is doing everything possible to blame his non-performance on other people, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also said that Nigerians should not be surprised at the decampment of Senate President, Bukola Saraki because he was never a true member of the APC and has consistently worked against the interest of the party.

    “In the build-up to the 2019 elections, some politicians have taken to the social media and traditional media to concoct tales that are outlandish and capable of throwing the country into chaos.

    “In Benue State, we are shock with disgust in the way and manner of some of our former associates who recently defected to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, would want to stand logic on the head in a bid to mislead and misinform the people.

    “Here, we are talking about the State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom whose freedom to associate with any political party of his choice is never in dispute, but it behaves on him never to assault common sense and good judgement in the process. What we are at a loss about is his desperation to concoct, twist, malign and like a bull in the China shop want to break valuable as he ramble about to justify his move.

    “Our governor whose despicable and unresisting utterances have made allusion to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for his travails. At any rate, Nigerians are mindful of the comportment and decency of Mr. President and his well-known aversion for under the table tactics in settling political differences.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained and showed exemplary leadership even in the face of provocations and harassment by people who misconstrue opposition politicking with daily embarrassing the President, yet, like an elder statesman who harbors no bitterness, he has continued to discharge his duties with commitment and resolute determination to birth the country we all can be proud off. The task of building an enduring county where peace, stability and justice shall prevail is his constant concern. He would not falter on this note.

    Read Also: Police chief: we maintained peace at Benue Assembly

    “We respect Ortom’s right to move out of our party but we ask, must he set the state on tire because of his primordial appetite for power? He must always remember that power comes from God and he freely endows it on whom it pleases Him. We encourage him to leave the President out of his troubles and readily give account of his stewardship and justify his recent political move as an adult.

    “The APC has maintained that his departure does not have any negative effect on our patty, a liability that he was, but for the admonition of the leaders of our party such as Senator George Akume and the Honorable Minister for Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Ortom ought to have been long impeached for gross dereliction of duty.

    “A total failure would have a zillion excuses for his none performance. Like a drowning man that he is, he has stalted to makes damnable lies as reasons for his lackluster performance in office. Well, we assure him that his days of reckoning are fast approaching and he must give account to the people of our state.

    “We are not ignorant or easily deceived. Ortom’s can continue to lament and peddle cock and bull stories-The truth is sacrosanct and he will answer to the people before long.

    “As for us in Zone C, we remain resolute under the amiable leadership of Chief Audu Ogbeh. We declare our unalloyed support for President Muhammadu Buhari as he pilots the affairs of state. We declare that we shall deliver block vote for him come 2019 that much we owe him.

    “We proclaim our continued membership of the APC. We are truely sorry for the embarrassment called Ortom. We promise to remedy the mistake in the next election as we promise to once again deliver our Zone 100° to Mr. President we stand with you-go on with the giant strides which we are proud to be associated with. Before long, the truth shall prevail even if it is under a barrage of attack-we shall prevail.

    “We reaffirm that Benue APC respect Ortom’s right to freely associate as he wishes, but come to think of it who in his right thinking mind in Benue whether in APC or PDP believes that Ortom is reselectable. That is the dilemma before them in the PDP which he has defected to.

    “So, for the APC it is indeed a relief and we wish him and the PDP best of luck. But nothing can be more fortuitous than his voluntary departure because every APC member in Benue and Nigeria have been in agony for the man who has been an albatross.

    “What we are looking forward to is how PDP intend to field him and win the election in the state. The people of Benue know of his endemic failures and would reject him. Benue has never had it this bad, Ortom is a failure. We challenge him to say otherwise as we are willing to engage him in a public debate.

    “On the Spate of defection generally, one is sad to say that greed, reckless ambition and not principle and national concern seems to be the driving factor. Virtually everybody running out of APC to PDP want to be a president.”