Benue Government’s Persecution of Ortom
It is strange and puzzling to see that since the beginning of this year, the immediate past Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom has featured in a barrage of press statements emanating from the office of the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia more than any other name or issue. What has however been missing in all the press releases by the Governor’s media team is the justification for their sustained attacks on Chief Ortom.
No day passes without one press statement or the other being released with its target at the former Governor.
The serial attacks on Chief Ortom are coming on the heels of uncountable petitions the present administration in the state has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies, in addition to the probe panels it set up against the former Governor, as well as the sealing of companies which he founded before he became Governor.
We find it imperative to question the rationale behind the apparent deep hatred and hostility towards the former Governor by his successor, because the acrid statements from Governor Alia’s spokesmen appear to serve no purpose other than to destroy the reputation of a leader who has dedicated his public service career to the principles of unity, justice, equity, and fairness.
Governor Alia and his team appear particularly angry at the presence of Chief Ortom at a few events where he was seen in photographs alongside the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume and other prominent figures of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Curiously, the Benue State Government, while engaging in tirades against Chief Ortom, has not similarly scrutinized its own allies and political relationships. Governor Alia is often publicly seen in company of some politicians in the state who are not his party members.
Perhaps the Governor and his team ought to remember that Chief Ortom has always been a champion of unity and not divisiveness. His two terms as Governor of Benue State were marked by a commitment to collaboration and inclusiveness. His Excellency Ortom’s approach in governance was not only reflective of a genuine desire to foster harmony among diverse groups, but it also aligned with the constitutional rights of freedom of association, which is what he has continued to demonstrate. In addition, the events which Chief Ortom has been attending are non-political in nature. Even if such gatherings were political, what is wrong in the leader of the main opposition party in the state being present at political events?
We wish to equally state that Chief Ortom is a member of G-5 who strongly stood for the rotation of the country’s presidency to the South and they succeeded. The G-5 has a standing relationship with President Bola Tinubu which is well known to Nigerians. It is therefore surprising that Governor Alia and his appointees would expect members of the group never to be in close proximity to the President.
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The recent media attacks on the former Governor are grossly misplaced. Rather than acknowledging the importance of healthy political relations, the current administration is engaging in a campaign of denigration, which is both unsubstantiated and unbecoming of a leader in such a key position as Governor.
Chief Ortom’s only “political crime” has been his pursuit of unity and his willingness to engage with longstanding associates, a development which should be celebrated rather than condemned. The relentless focus on disparaging the former Governor raises questions about the motives driving the anti-Ortom campaign.
What has Chief Ortom done wrong by simply attending events to rejoice with those who rejoice and sympathize with those in mourning? What is it that Governor Alia and his administration hope to achieve through the repeated attacks on his predecessor? Is it merely a distraction from their governance responsibilities, or is there a deeper insecurity that has prompted the persecution of Ortom?
We once again urge Governor Alia to redirect his focus towards the pressing issues facing the people of Benue State in the area of security. He promised to return the internally displaced people (IDPs) of the state to their ancestral lands. There are killings taking place in Benue communities with a number of our people unable to access their homes where their means of livelihood is located. We expect the disturbing situation to form part of Governor Alia’s priorities.
The unprecedented resources available to the present administration have presented an opportunity for the Governor to provide good governance for the people, including clearing the arrears of salaries and pensions like other state governors who also inherited the backlog of wages and pensions have since done and now no state in the country is owing salaries and pensions, as a result of the increase in federal allocations by President Tinubu. Those are the areas that the current administration should focus on, instead of launching daily media attacks against the former Governor
Chief Ortom played his part as Governor of the state and has left the stage. Governor Alia now has the opportunity to do better.
