Below is a statement from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC (Benue chapter) signed by its director of Publicity, Apeh Peterhot;
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue State is once again constrained to react to the desperate attempt by the state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, to demonize his former political party, the All Progressives Congress.
In the Governor’s desperate attempt to poison the minds of the discerning public against the APC, he, in an audience participatory programme, “Issues of the Moment” on Radio Benue held in the early hours of today, Friday accused his former party of been responsible for his abysmal failures in office in the last three years, especially his inability to pay the state civil servants’ salaries.
We make bold to challenge the governor to make public evidences of where and how he donated his illegally deducted funds from the state and local governments’ coffers to the party or any of its agent.
Again, on his claim that the 276 elected councillors of the State defected with him on his I_must_be governor’s journey, we have it on good authority that only a handful were coerced to join the Governor on a pretext of having an emergency meeting with the council members. Up to date, no councillor or local government chairman under the APC has tendered his or her resignation letter to the party.
On the governor’s claim that he detests illegality, we challenge him on his role in the purported impeachment of the Benue House of Assembly leadership when the Benue State House of Assembly standing rule number 3(11a) states clearly that when sitting is adjourned and matter of public interest is required, a petition by one-third members is addressed to the Speaker of the House, notifying him of the House’s intention to convene earlier than the adjourned date, the Speaker may give notice accordingly to the members for the need to reconvene. Unfortunately, this procedures were jettisoned.
It is laughable and contradictory to his acclaimed stand on detesting illegality when he backed same because he benefits from its products.
However, as a party anchored on the rule of law and justice, we wish to state that the Benue APC is unaware of any change in the house leadership; Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange still remain the Speaker and presiding officer of the Benue State House of Assembly.
We advise Governor Samuel Ortom to learn the science of modern day governance which is beyond mere propaganda. This will help him halt the death of thousands of Benue State workers and pensioners who are dying as a resultant effect of his inability to pay their salaries and pensions.
