Benue State has in recent times been sharply polarized on political lines following the seeming feud between Governor Samuel Ortom and President Muhammadu Buhari over the killings in the State.
On the one side are political gladiators loyal to President Buhari, and the other, those who believe that Ortom is right in his outburst against the Presidency for failing to stop the killings of Benue citizens in their land allegedly by Fulani intruders.
Stoically on the side of the Presidency is a former governor of the State, now Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, who urged the president to declare emergency rule in Benue State.
He has the backing of frontline members of the State’s chapter of the APC.
Addressing journalists on behalf of elders and stakeholders of the party in the State in Abuja on Monday, George Akume said the call for emergency rule came after assessment of the situation and the “acceptance of failure” by Governor Ortom.
Akume, who was flanked by APC Chairman, Abba Moro, former and serving national and state assembly members and chieftains of the party in the State, said the governor has shown gross incompetence to govern, calling on the President to rescue the State.
Akume declared: “Since Governor Ortom has consistently alleged that the security situation in Benue State has deteriorated in such a manner that lives of Benue people are not secure, we call on Mr. President as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to declare a state of emergency in Benue State to bring the security situation in the State under control.
“We are dismayed by this crass incompetence exhibited by the governor. His rantings are irritating and smack of tricks of a conman. It is crystal clear that the ultimate solution to the Benue insecurity would be, as Governor Ortom himself had earlier this year said that the President should declare a state of emergency in Benue State with approval of the National Assembly.
“Governor Ortom’s foul language to disparage decent people could further deteriorate the security situation in Benue State. We urge security agencies to immediately arrest all criminal elements Governor Ortom is using to perpetuate insecurity and bring normalcy to the troubled State.”
On a recent verbal outburst of the governor and the “uncouth” statement against the person and the office of President Buhari, the Minister described the development as unfortunate and unbecoming of a statesman and the sanctity of the office the governor occupy.
“We the stakeholders of the Benue State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are alarmed at the lonesome bitter and sustained campaign of calumny launched by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on the person and office of our President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“This unwarranted and ill-motivated attack has been going on for over one year now, and it seems President Buhari’s silence and incredible display of magnanimity to the Governor and the people of Benue State has not been enough to pacify the governor.
“We recognize Dr. Ortom’s right as a free citizen of our country to air his views and promote them wherever he wants, but we also expect him as an elected governor to be conscious that his public statements are weighty enough to be construed as the general opinion of the people of Benue State.
“We cannot, however, stand by and watch this brazen show of shame by the Governor through infantile and irresponsible public statements on Mr. President and the possible destruction of the cordial relationship Benue State as a federating unit has always enjoyed with the centre.”
However, Ortom, in reaction through his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, said the APC leaders in the State failed to address issues raised by the governor on insecurity, accusing them of going on ego massaging to curry favour from the President.
“As expected, Senator Akume and his group avoided responding to the issues of insecurity in the country which the Governor has repeatedly and rightly accused the Presidency of complicity.
“The outing of George Akume and others in Abuja was nothing more than a massage on the ego of the Presidency to curry personal favours. As long as he and his group secure their meal tickets, Benue can go to hell. A media attack on Governor Ortom instantly attracts a package from the Villa.
“Akume and his group must have been under intense pressure to hold the press conference and hurl vituperation against the Governor. This, they had to do to keep their jobs.
“The leadership of APC in Benue, having lost grip of the party membership in the state with hundreds defecting to PDP every week, now see a window of opportunity to re-launch themselves to relevance.
“As a two-term former Governor of Benue State, it is shocking that Akume is now calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state to dismantle democratic structures.
“Is it not contradictory that Akume faults Governor Ortom over his statements on the President’s handling of the security situation in the country but goes ahead to brand the Governor as a criminal and sponsor of a militia? We challenge the Minister to provide evidence to back his claim that the Governor is involved in corruption and sponsors militia.
“We recall that when he was Governor, Akume challenged the then President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for not doing enough to end the Jukun/Tiv crisis on the border of Benue and Taraba State. He is on record to have confronted President Obasanjo and said uncomplimentary things to the President.
Now he finds it convenient to give lectures on respect for hierarchy in government and age.”
On his call for a probe, Ortom said: “We have no objection to that. Governor Ortom is running a transparent administration and has nothing to hide. We however invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to begin their probe from 1999 when Akume became Governor. The N2 billion that went missing at the twilight of his administration is yet to be accounted for.
“Akume’s utterances in 2019 are still fresh in the minds of Benue people. After the state came under herdsmen attacks and hundreds were killed, he accused Benue people of killing themselves. That the people responded to him by voting him out of the Senate confirmed their anger towards him.”
On his part, the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv Nation, Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, argued that Ortom’s outcry has been grossly misunderstood by the Federal government, for political reasons.
The Tor Tiv stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi on Monday. He lamented the degenerating level of security in the country, and called on the government to critically look at all that the governor has been saying and address them accordingly.
Governor Ortom had gathered the stakeholders to brief them on issues affecting the State and to harvest their views.
“I am saddened by the political dimension your outcry has taken. I think all you have been saying is to state the fact but this has been misunderstood may be because you’re in a different political party.
“As long as this security challenge is affecting all of us, I don’t expect anybody to want you to keep quiet. So, I believe what needs to be done is to look at those things you have been saying and address them,” the traditional ruler said.
While positing that the governor has never been abusive in his call on President Buhari to address the nagging insecurity situation in the country, he maintained that several people had said worse things in the past without being attacked in a similar way.
He, however, suggested that a group of elders should be nominated to approach the president with a view to explaining the matter to him in a manner that he would understand.
“You have not been abusive as far as I know. I know you have been very passionate about the president. A lot of people have said things that are even worse.
“I will suggest that if it’s appropriate, maybe we would look for elders who will interpret all you are saying to the President. It’s unfortunate that people read political meanings to all you’re saying. I think you’re doing your duty and we have to support you.
“I commend you for your effort in supporting the security agencies in the State. What needs to be done should be done speedily,’ the Tor Tiv said.
Also speaking, Second Republic Minister of Power and Steel, Mr. Paul Unongo, urged the president to listen to Ortom without bias, stressing that he is only doing what every man with the thoughts of his people at heart will do.
“The best thing is for Mr. President to listen to Ortom without a biased mind. Those who are trying to paint Ortom bad before the president are really doing a damage.”
The former Chairman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) dispelled insinuations that Governor Ortom was engaging the President with the intention to drive politics in the State.
While noting that both President Buhari and Governor Ortom are constitutional creations, the elder statesman said it will only paint a dictatorial tone if the president opts for intimidation and blackmail, instead of setting aside bias and listening to what the governor is saying.
“I will advise those who are painting the picture that Ortom is fighting a personal or political war with the president to desist forthwith,’ he stated.
Senator Orke Jev, speaking on behalf of the senators, said: “”In the fullness of time, the benefits of the moment will pass away and we will hand over such people to posterity.”