The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has described the allegation coming from the camp of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he sponsored a smear campaign against him, as unfair.
The
governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Emmanuel Jime, had accused the
governor of being behind the outcry that greeted APC rally in Daudu IDPs camp
in the state.
But in
statement made available to the Media by the State Government on Monday, Terver
Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said “We read newspaper
reports credited to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, APC in Benue State, Emmanuel Jime, in which he alleged that Governor
Samuel Ortom sponsored a smear campaign against him.
“Mr Jime’s
allegation that Governor Ortom was behind the public outcry that greeted APC’s
rally in the Daudu camp for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs is a clear case
of misplaced aggression.
“The
Governor was not part of the APC meeting where the decision to stage a
political rally in an IDP camp was made. He also did not determine how the
public viewed with widespread condemnation, the APC outing in the camp
including the reported purchase of permanent voter’s cards, PVCs from the
vulnerable IDPs.
The APC
governorship candidate was, therefore, being unfair in his accusation of
Governor Ortom over the Daudu IDP Camp incident.
“Mr. Jime’s
allegation that the Ortom administration is also behind the story going round
that his mother is of Fulani ethnic group is another unfair accusation. He
cannot provide any evidence to prove that Governor Ortom insinuated that his
mother is a Fulani woman. We urge the former lawmaker to look elsewhere for the
origin of the rumour and spare the Governor of these many accusations.
“On the
interest shown in his candidacy by Miyetti Allah groups, Mr Jime is wrong again
to accuse Governor Ortom. It is on record that the Fulani Nationality Movement,
FUNAM, one of the violent groups which claimed responsibility for the 2018
Benue killings and threatened to cause more bloodshed in the state has vowed
that it will do all within its power to remove Governor Ortom from office and
ensure that Mr Jime is made Governor of Benue State.
“A few days
before FUNAM issued their threat, another group known as APC Fulani Nationwide,
led by one Garus Gololo had lavishly endorsed Mr Jime as its preferred
governorship candidate and promised to mobilize their members across the
country to support the election bid of the APC candidate in Benue.
“We wonder
how Mr. Jime considers those endorsements, goodwill and support from the
Miyetti Allah groups which were extensively publicised by the media as
emanating from Governor Ortom.
“We found Mr
Jime’s comments that the Ortom administration lacks courage as uncharitable, to
say the least.
“Governor
Ortom may not have the strength of a pugilist to engage his opponents in
fisticuffs at official functions but he surely does not lack the strength of
character of a good leader who does not abandon his people when the enemy comes
knocking.
“He has
demonstrated uncommon courage in defending his people against the same violent
groups who are today endorsing Mr Jime for Governor so that he can win and
pander to their whims and caprices.
“Many also
wonder why they did not hear his voice on the 2018 New Year Day and other
massacres in Benue State as well as his decisiveness in choosing a running
mate, two months after the APC governorship primary election.
“We urge Mr
Jime to heed his own advice and focus on campaign of issues. That’s the only
way democracy can be deepened for the people to decide who has what it takes to
lead them.
“The APC
governorship candidate does not need to embark on a voyage of accusations against
opponents.
”That is not
a suitable blueprint for the 2019 polls.”
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