Benue State’s Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress have been at odds over Governor Samuel Ortom’s hurried projects, which include a supposed airport.
In a statement on Sunday, the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Daniel Ihomou, said it was curious that Ortom would embark on an airport project two months to the end of his administration.
“How can a government that has failed to build a cargo airport in Benue State after two attempts in almost eight years suddenly award a contract to build a civil airport in the remaining two months of the lifespan of such administration?
“Why will a government which has not been able to pay salaries and pensions, suddenly in the twilight of its administration suddenly begin the ill promotion/appointment of selected people and illegal recruitment of more people into the service?”
“Let us warn those trying to pull down the house because they have lost elections, that the APC will not fold its arms and allow them to destroy Benue State. Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has a covenant with the people to improve their lives and it must come to pass,” Ihoumou said.
But the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, described as unfounded the allegation that the Ortom administration was embarking on the construction of an airport.
Iortyom also accused the APC and the governor-elect of seeking to sabotage the Ortom administration, by secretly instructing civil servants to shun instructions from the Ortom administration.
He said, “The plots by Alia and the APC have been revealed to include secret meetings held with selected civil servants some of whom are reported to have been threatened and some they have directed to scuttle the smooth running of the Ortom administration by ignoring directives from the governor.
“The PDP finds this disposition and conduct of Alia and APC as reflecting the most extreme form of impunity and immaturity lacking in necessary ingredients of statecraft as never before witnessed in the history of Benue State.
“Perhaps, Alia and the APC need to be reminded that Governor Ortom remains the Governor of Benue State till May 29, 2023, and there cannot within this period be two governors of the state.”
