THE All Progressive Congress (APC) has denied ousting Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, from the party.
Governor Ortom had earlier in the week claimed he was given a red card to exit the party.
But reacting, the Benue State chapter of APC denying the allegation said instead it was the governor that gave himself the said ‘red card.’
The party’s National leadership had earlier described the report as rumour.
In a statement on Thursday the state chapter said its demand for good governance on behalf of the people of the state was why the governor issued the red card to himself in a bid to shy away from accountability.
Below is a statement made available to Igbere TV correspondent,
“The Benue State Chapter of the All progressives Congress, APC, wishes to clear the air on the current issue trending on both conventional and social media on the Party’s purported issuance of ‘red card to the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom,” the party said.
“We wish to State categorically that the Benue State chapter of the 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 (Dr.) George Akume for another term in office.
“The endorsement of the Governor and leader of the party was meant to further unite the party in the state and provide a stable political atmosphere for the governor and the leader of the party to deliver better dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
“In return for the endorsement by the State chapter of the party, we demanded from the Governor on behalf of the people of Benue State improved welfare for the people of the State. 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.
“While urging our teaming stakeholders, supporters and fans to remain calm in the face of this turn of event in our political history, we wish to restate our commitment to the ideas of good governance which encompasses transparency, accountability, justice, mutual respect and fairness which we do not only preach but have made integral part of our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Thank you.
Signed:
Comrade Apeh Peterhot
Director of Publicity,
APC Benue State.
