Sen. Akume diverted N2bn meant for Benue state gov. – Tahav Agerzua

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has accused his former political godfather senator George Akume of diverting N2 billion from the State coffers while serving as Governor to prosecute his senatorial ambition in 2007.

The Governor who spoke through his Media Adviser, Tahav Agerzua also accused the former Governor of the State of playing God by arrogating power to himself.

Governor Ortom was reacting to the statement made by Senator George Akume, that the Governor had performed abysmally poor.

Akume in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi had accused the governor of misappropriating over N500 billion accrued to the State since Ortom administration but regretted that he (Ortom) could not use the funds to pay salary.

Akume during the interaction apologized to people of the State for handing over Ortom to the people in 2015 as Governor.

But reacting on behalf of the Governor, Agerzua said Senator Akume took the money unappropriated with which he contested for the Senate president in 2007 and lost.

He said the 2 billion naira saga was a tip of the iceberg in his tenure as Governor which he said was reputed to have been riddled with massive corruption.

According to him: “Akume had enjoyed many privileges from people of Benue who voted him as governor for two terms and senator three times such that he ought to respect every Benue citizen.

“Akume’s criticism of Governor Samuel Ortom has nothing to do with performance but everything to do with Ortom’s subservience and subjugation to his whims and caprices.

“It has become a trend for Nigerian godfathers to suffocate their godchildren for failing to be totally slavish to them. This is unfortunate of godfathers who arrogate themselves as gods as it happened in Lagos State,” he added.

He added: “Unfortunately for Akume he failed to achieve the same selfish dreams for Ortom in like manner.”

Ortom said that for the fact that Akume did not appreciate the privileges Benue people have given to him, he enjoined the people of the State to withdraw their support for him