Ortom fires at Akume after the state of emergency in Benue is demanded

Former governor George Akume has been chastised by Governor Samuel Ortom for urging the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Benue State.

At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Akume called for the state of emergency to be declared in Benue due to the high level of insecurity.

Ortom, on the other hand, responds with a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

“We read the text of Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and other All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders from Benue State’s press conference held today in Abuja.

“We had previously informed residents of Benue and other Nigerians of the impending press conference. It’s part of a coordinated smear campaign against Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State.

“As expected, Senator Akume and his group avoided commenting on the country’s insecurity, which the Governor has repeatedly and correctly blamed on the Presidency.

“George Akume and others’ appearance in Abuja was nothing more than a massage on the Presidency’s ego in order to curry personal favors. Benue can go to hell as long as he and his group get their meal tickets. A media attack on Governor Ortom prompts a package from the Villa, according to the statement.

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According to the statement, Akume and his group were under extreme duress to hold the press conference and spew venom at the Governor, claiming that they had no choice but to do so in order to keep their jobs.

According to the report, the APC leadership in Benue saw a window of opportunity to relaunch themselves into relevance after losing control of the party membership in the state, with hundreds defecting to the PDP every week.

“As a two-term former Governor of Benue State, Akume’s call for the state to declare a state of emergency to dismantle democratic structures is shocking.

“Isn’t it ironic that Akume criticizes Governor Ortom for his comments on the President’s handling of the country’s security situation, but then goes on to call him a criminal and militia sponsor? We challenge the Minister to back up his claim that the Governor is corrupt and supports militia with evidence.

“We recall that when Akume was Governor, he publicly chastised then-President Olusegun Obasanjo for not doing enough to resolve the Jukun/Tiv crisis on the Benue-Taraba State border. He is known to have confronted President Obasanjo and said unflattering things about him. He now finds it more convenient to give lectures on government hierarchy and age,” the statement continued.

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“We have no objection to that,” the statement said in response to Akume’s call for an investigation. Governor Ortom’s administration is open and transparent, and he has nothing to hide. We do, however, invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, to begin their investigation in 1999, when Governor Akume took office. The N2 billion that went missing near the end of his presidency has yet to be found.

“Akume’s 2019 statements are still fresh in the minds of Benue residents. He accused Benue people of killing themselves after the state was attacked by herdsmen and hundreds were killed. The fact that he was voted out of the Senate confirmed the public’s displeasure with him. Finally, we expected the APC to hold a press conference in Benue to gauge public opinion in the state.”