The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has fired back at the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole over his attack on him after his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking through Terver Akase, his Chief Press Secretary, Ortom wondered why Oshiomhole, who poured encomuims on him a few days ago at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, would now condemn him following his defection.
On Friday, Oshiomhole said that the party was relieved that Ortom has left party.
“I am relieved as national chairman, and I believe that the leadership of the party in Benue is also relieved that Ortom has left the party and returned to the club he belongs,” Oshiomhole tod newsmen.
But Akase lambasted the APC National Chairman’s sudden aggression towards Governor Ortom, saying it has, among other things, revealed the true oppressive intentions of the APC towards Nigerians.
He wrote: “Oshiomhole appears to be flying a kite of an agenda to intimidate and suppress Nigerians who desire freedom from a party which has clearly failed to secure lives and property, thereby ushering in an orgy of violence never before witnessed in the history of the country.
“Adams Oshiomhole’s diatribe against Governor Ortom has also revealed the plot hatched by APC leaders within and outside Benue to throw the state into political crisis ahead of the 2019 elections.
“Comrade Oshiomhole ought to be telling Nigerians why they should vote for APC next year instead of embarking on a voyage of attacks on perceived opponents. His unprovoked attack on Governor Ortom and other members of the opposition has not translated to a single vote for the APC.
“A man of supposed high political stature like Oshiomhole should rather be out to court the sympathy of the very few key actors still left in the APC even in the face of unprecedented frustration by anomalies in the party instead of launching laughable verbal assaults on those who can no longer stand the strange happenings within the party.
“Insulting almost all those who have left due to the party’s inability to address their grievances would only convince those yet to make up their minds that they are truly in the wrong place.
“Oshiomhole appears to be in a hurry to justify his moniker as an ‘undertaker’ who has come to evacuate what is left of the once popular APC into oblivion as recently observed by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We advise the embattled Chairman to get busy with the job of his office and minimize his divisive and hate-filled statements. As a former governor, Oshiomhole ought to be statesmanly in his utterances.
“As the Chairman of the ruling party, he ought to speak with decorum and caution, to market his party and its candidates to Nigerians and not try to whip political opponents into silence.
“Another thing that should occupy Comrade Oshiomhole’s mind at time is the suit filed against him by Bishop Osadolor Anthony Ochie, an Edo based cleric and rights activist, on account of corruption while he served as governor of Edo State. Oshiomhole does not possess the moral credentials to accuse other leaders of corruption.
“On his take regarding security votes, we wonder what Oshiomhole hoped to achieve with such an accusation? Governor Ortom has not done anything outside the laid down procedures in addressing security challenges by a state governor. As a former governor, Comrade Oshiomhole should know this better.
“On his allegation that the Governor’s aides are among those killing people in the state, it seems Oshiomhole is privy to the ongoing investigation of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of two Catholic priests and 17 worshipers at Mbalom, Gwer East local government area of Benue State.
“With his jumping into conclusion that the suspects were sponsored by the Governor, our suspicion is that either the investigation into the matter has been compromised or the APC National Chairman is influencing it. Benue people know who their killers are, and the attackers are believed to be sponsored by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and other Miyetti Allah groups.
“We advise the APC National Chairman to stop his shameful dance on the graves of innocent Benue children, pregnant women and others slaughtered by armed herdsmen.
“Governor Ortom won’t let APC’s latter day media attacks distract his administration from providing good governace to the people as he has been doing.
“Though the Benue State Governor has left APC, he appreciates the leadership and members of the party for recognising and appropriately praising him for his laudable achievements.
“We already alerted Nigerians, particularly the people of Benue State that these attacks on Governor Ortom will surely come from enemies of the state.”
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