The Governor on Sunday, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, gave reasons he defected from the party.
Agerzua addressed reporters in Makurdi, the State capital, explaining that the lack of internal democracy within the ranks of the party in the state contributed in no small measure for his decision.
He said, “You have a situation where a powerful individual high jacked every structure of the party and excluded all other stakeholders including senators and members of the National Assembly and key party members.
“Besides, major stakeholders in the state advised Governor Ortom to leave the APC because of the federal government’s alleged complicity in the ongoing killings in the country including Benue state.
“They advised him to change platform so that they can fight against the return of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
“The stakeholder are scared that if Buhari comes back in 2019 the killings would be worst because it is clear that he supports the conquest and occupation agenda of his ethnic group, the Fulanis.
“The people claimed that the APC at the centre is an accomplice because you see key Ministers of the administration, key Ministers of the National security council, like that of Internal Affairs, Defence, IG of Police and the Chief of Army Staff coming out to condemn the anti open grazing law of the state which is a major landmark law because it opposes the Fulani agenda.
“They are using grazing to conquer and occupy. But now both the government of the APC and the party machinery are now trying to change the narrative of the Benue killings to blame the victims instead of the aggressors.
“That is why they are now claiming that he is sponsoring the killings.
“Is it Ortom that is killing in Plateau, Adamawa, Zamfara and other states of the federation? So are you saying that the governors of these states are killing their people? Okay since you know the killers, whoever they may be why not arrest the people involved?
“Why the Benue stakeholder believe that the federal government is complicit in the killings is their failure to arrest the leadership Miyetti Alla Kautal Hore who had earlier issued threats against Benue and eventually executed that same threat even after the matter was reported severally?
“The other reason is Senator George Akume’s inordinate ambition to become senate president that has made him to sacrifice anyone or anybody or even his people to achieve his ambition.
“We gathered that He has been promised the senate presidency and he has sacrificed Ortom and his people. You know he contested the position in 2007 and 2011. His whole life is to become the senate president at the expense of anything and he is satisfied.
“It is that ambition that made him to sacrifice Ortom to the federal powers.
“Another issue is Senator Akume’s antecedents. It was not possible for Ortom to contain Akume. Nobody has been able to keep a lasting relationship with Akume in Benue state, nobody has the capacity. It is impossible to cohabit with Akume politically for long. It is impossible. Ask the likes of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Terhemba Shija his former campaign Director General.
“Is it Senator Gemade, is it Senator David Mark, is it Gabriel Suswam? Name them.
“Akume talked about Ortom’s non performance, it cannot be that issue because all the people listed here did not have performance issues yet Akume fell out with them. If you talk of non perforce it means that Akume has indicted himself because he brought Ortom and then nominated key officials in his cabinet and he asked non of them to resign on account of non performance.
“Everyone know that Ortom became Governor in time of war, what we are going through is a warlike situation where 18 out of 23 local government areas were under siege. It means Ortom is Governor in time war which is a different ball game apart from the economic challenge.
“Apart from that he has recorded major milestones in health, education, security and infrastructure. Lots of projects are being executed in the rural areas. Bridges, roads and electricity. There are about 70 projects ongoing presently across the state.
“Moreover there is a grand conspiracy against Governor Ortom from APC forces from within and outside the state which was uncovered. This is not only against his reelection but against the wishes of the people of the state.
“Another issue is the APC administration’s failure to deliver on its campaign promises of security, economic rejuvenation and fight against corruption.
“They have clearly failed. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seems to be going after perceived enemies of the government. There no visible federal government presence in Benue, all federal roads are in terrible state. So from all these Ortom saw that his interest and those of the people cannot be protected in the APC so he had to leave.”
from dailypost
ReplyDeleteCNN’s chief international correspondent, Christine Armanpour has opined that President Muhammadu Buhari may be behind the Fulani herdsmen Menace currently ravaging the country.
The British-Iranian TV host said :“By all definitions and descriptions, the Nigeria’s so called herdsmen are terrorists and if President Buhari doesn’t believe so, then it would be difficult for anyone to reasonably absolve him (Buhari) from complicity”.
“I cover wars and crisis as a journalist, I think I know, and the world also knows how terrorists operate”
Ortom & David Mark are the worst kind of leaders one shouldn't dream of having.
ReplyDeleteHis defection won't absolve him of nothing.
They both stood by and watched their kinsmen being slaughtered without doing nothing, even covertly to help the. Shame on both of them!
*Ghanaman signing out*
Ghanaman,all these people you mention, their hands dey there. Why stop it or make noise when you are part of the planners?
DeleteCan you people please stop lying? Benue state people read this blog too. There is no amount of noise you make as excuses that will make benue support Ortom. Gemade( spelt as grenade by autocorrect), Suswan and you Ortom are all evil. Why Ortom is having issues with Gemade is because his level of greed surpassed that of his godfather. Benue state politics is rotten but I blame the myopic benue people that keep voting for you ppl. You have brought them to a level that they can no longer cry out. Do you pay salaries. Are you not owing state workers close to two years? Then you jumped all the months you are owing and started paying some months this year cos election is close by. What have you been doing with state allocation?
ReplyDeleteStop using buhari as an excuse for your failure. Ortom is a thief and they all knew before voting him in. I will give up on benue if they ever elect you into office. Evil people everywhere. If not that you destroyed them with hunger, who are fulani herdsmen that will face benue to fight? Stop making noise and make corrections.
Hmmmmmmm, I agree with the last part of your comment becuase I served in Benue(1999-2000) and I know how brave these people are, was wondering what has come over them that Fulani can just over-run them like this. They have been psychologically, emotionally and financially defeated by the government already. It is well, I pray for a miracle for my dear Benue State.
DeleteIs Akume the reason u r owing salaries. U want a second term as a governor, Akume wants d senate, how is he ur problem?
ReplyDeleteA few weeks to election, he defected from PDP to join APC, he knows Benue will never vote APC again so he stylishly used Buhari and the rest as an excuse to defect back to base. Political prostitute. Benue voters can fall hand as soon as they see mudu of rice and salt. That's what David Mark uses anyway.
ReplyDeletePMB and APC all together are evil
ReplyDelete