Benue APC reveals why Ortom is angry

The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has for the first time reacted to the recent claim by the state governor, Samuel Ortom that he was red-carded by leadership of the party in the state.

Ortom had last week claimed that he was leaving the party because he had been given a red card.

However, after a meeting with the party’s national chairman on Thursday, Ortom rescinded his decision, stating that he was still a member of the party.

Speaking on the development for the first time, Benue APC in a statement However, the by its Director of Publicity, Comrade Apeh Peterhot, said the party only demanded for good governance from the governor and didn’t at any point issued him a red card.

Apeh said, “APC has not at any point given a red card to Governor Samuel Ortom or any other member of the party. Rather, the party at its last state congress in Makurdi endorsed the Governor, Samuel Ortom, and leader of the party in the State, Senator George Akume for another term in office”.

“These demands became necessary due to the fact that despite several interventions by the Federal Government in form of bailouts, Paris Club Refunds, budgetary supports coupled with the huge borrowings by his administration amongst others, the State is still clouded with huge salary arrears and unpaid pensions of retired civil servants, huge deficits of basic infrastructure and porous security situation bedeviling the state. It is consequence upon these that as a party, we demanded explanations on the handling of affairs especially issues bothering on security in the state”.

“We are grossly embarrassed that these issues raised with the governor in confidence for the purpose of repositioning governance to better the lot of Benue people and position the party on the path of victory ahead of the 2019 general elections is been juxtaposed and treated unclad without regard to the code of secrecy on which premise we laid our demands for better governance”.

“It is however disheartening that the governor, apparently trying to shy away from accountability and to portray the party in bad light before the unsuspecting members of the public, resorted to public show over the matter that should have been treated and resolved internally. This is surely not how to reciprocate the blind trust, respect, honour and confidence reposed on Mr. Samuel Ortom when he joined the party and was made its flag bearer within 24 hours after coming a distant third (3rd position) in the then PDP primaries”.