The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has refuted insinuations by a group known as Benue Rebirth Movement, BRM, wherein they claimed that the Governor hates the Idoma people, and would not want them to be elected into office as governor of the state.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, described the allegation against the Governor as spurious and far from the truth, particularly as it relates to the 2023 governorship election in Benue State.
He further argued that since 2015 when Governor Samuel Ortom came to office, he has continued to promote the unity of the state with accentuated vigour.
Noting that this is also displayed in the now famous, ‘Unity Cap’, which he preaches to build unity among all ethnic nationalities in the state, and Nigeria in general.
“Of utmost importance to the governor is the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance he swore to, that makes every citizen of the state his primary responsibility. He has displayed this in both his appointments and siting of amenities as no zone in the state lags behind.
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The idea behind this is to show that Benue is for all, and not just for the Tiv alone, as the AVM, Monday Morgan’s Benue Rebirth Movement, BRM wants the public to believe.” The statement read in part.
The Governor’s spokesman insisted that it is on record, that the Governor had counselled the leadership of the Benue Rebirth Movement to reach out to their Tiv brothers, to canvass support across all political parties, and not just in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for an Idoma son or daughter, to be elected as Governor of the state.
He went further to still advise the Benue Rebirth Movement to do more homework, by building trust and confidence with their Tiv brothers, in their quest, and not to turn and make Governor Ortom an issue in their contest for the governorship of the state.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
