30th August, 2021
By Okon Okon
The Benue Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Governor Samuel Ortom to tender an unreserved apology to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ortom had in recent interviews, accused Buhari of being responsible for the incessant killings in Nigeria.
He alleged that the President refused to take action against herdsmen, who are his kinsmen and who have been involved in killings in the state.
APC stakeholders in the state demanded the apology at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Sen. George Akume, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs expressed dismay over Ortom’s utterances about the President, describing it as “unwarranted and ill-motivated”.
“We call on Gov. Samuel Ortom to tender an unreserved apology to President Muhammadu Buhari, for using foul language on Mr President.
“This unwarranted and ill-motivated attack has been going on for over one year now, and it seems Buhari’s silence and incredible display of magnanimity to the Governor and the people of Benue have not been enough to pacify him.
“However, we can not stand by and watch this brazen show of shame by the governor through infantile and irresponsible public statements on the President and the possible destruction of the cordial relationship, the state as a federating unit has always enjoyed with the centre, ” he said.
According to Akume, Buhari has done a lot for Benue such as the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo and the Federal College of Education, Apa.
“They also include the Federal Polytechnic Wannune among others.
“As far as we know, the President has delivered all his obligations to the governor and people of Benue by ensuring regular and prompt releases of the state and local government’s monthly federal allocations.
“All of which amounted to about N500 billion since Ortom’s assumption of office as governor in 2015.
“Furthermore, Buhari had released N40 billion to the Ortom administration as bailout funds to enable him to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and allowances, among others,” Akume explained.
Meanwhile, he added that the forum recognised Ortom’s right as a free citizen to air his views and promote them wherever he wanted, but expected him to be conscious of his statements on the President.
Nevertheless, Akume used the forum to appeal to Buhari to declare a state of Emergency on the state, to curb the prevailing security challenge.
NAN