Ortom raises the alarm of planned attack on Benue

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state yesterday alerted of plans to use herdsmen mercenaries to destabilise Benue for political reasons.
The governor also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to start investigation of security votes from the Presidency, and extend to other states of the federation.
Ortom who addressed newsmen yesterday at the Government House, Makurdi, noted that the EFCC, and police most were being used to victimise people due to political and selfish reasons.
He said he was being persecuted because he recently defected from the ruling APC to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Ortom said he was the only governor in Nigeria now whose security vote is being investigated by the EFCC, but added that he had nothing to hide.
The governor said, “as I earlier alerted the people, EFCC is now probing the state’s security vote.
“Why should Benue case be different, if not persecution? If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 states.
“If their focus was on Benue state, they should have started from 1999.
But this is not the case.
With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.
“The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state.
I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution.
“I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money.
I have nothing to hide.
I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.” On the alleged planned attack on the state, Ortom accused a senator in the state, for allowing himself to be used to distabilise Benue.
He disclosed that the senator desperately tried to use the state Assembly to assist him destabilise the state.
He also said the senator also used security operatives to give protection to 8 assembly members to carry out illegality and disobey a court injunction.
“Right now, I got security report that herdsmen have entered the state with more than 10,000 cows after being chased out by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke.
The most unfortunate aspect is that some sons of the state, including a serving senator have been recruited and mobilised to lead this phase.
“I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to protect the democracy that brought him to power by directing the police, and other security agencies to respect the rule of law for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
“Impunity is dangerous and destructive.
Its negative effects on people and institutions can be very far reaching.
If unchecked, its unexpected consequences will consume all, including those deploying it as an instrument of power,” he added.