Ortom Accuse APC of Plot to Demonise Him

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to destabilise the state.

Ortom said this during an interaction with journalists Monday at Government House, Makurdi while responding to verbal attacks on him by National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, who described him as 'unmarketable'.

The governor noted that Oshiomole's comment shows that he is not a democrat, adding that he is an overzealous national party chairman.

"If I was unmarketable, why was he bent on keeping me in the party? The party is demonizing me for leaving and I have the freedom to associate with whomever I want. He should be reminded that he has a court case which bother on corruption while he was governor of Edo State.  Under his leadership, the fortune of the party is diminishing with defection of so many members especially National Assembly members.

He also, regretted over the incident at the State Assembly where security agencies prevented 22 members from sitting and allowed 8 members access into the chamber, describing the act as illegal and provocative.

"This is the highest level of illegality and impunity for police from Abuja acting on the the instruction of Sen. George Akume and the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to forcefully invade the house, barred 22 members from having access to the house, manhandled , tear gassed many and took them away.

"They provided heavy security and escorted eight members to sit. This is a fragrant disobedience to Makurdi High Court injunction restraining them from sitting. The same members went ahead to serve me a notice of impeachment.

"I will employ every legal process to tackle this illegality since my government believes in the rule of law. Benue people should rise up and resist this impunity. I have the right to associate with any political party of my choice. The president should protect democracy ad this kind of impunity can derail it. He should restrain the IGP from being used by Akume to destabilise the state," Ortom appealed.

On allegation of financial misappropriation levelled against him by Ikyange, Ortom dismissed it as false, maintaining that he adequately account for every money expended by this administration.

"Even the case at the EFCC will follow due process. We also, have evidence of where Ikyange collected money without accounting for it. Why did he not accuse me of non-performance before now," Ortom questioned.