Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, Sunday described those leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), for other political parties as patriots.
Ortom spoke in an interview at Tomatar in Ugee council ward of Gwer local government area at the decamping ceremony of hundreds of APC members into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stressed that the party in control of the federal government has run the country aground and that only patriots can come together to salvage the situation.
The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Terwase Orbunde, said the entire country has
been completely engulfed by insecurity with those in control of the security apparatus not only displaying gross incompetence to arrest the situation but also aiding and abetting resulting to the death of many innocent Nigerians.
“All patriots must rise up and make sacrifices to stop the drift and bring the country back on the right track,” he added.
While welcoming those who decamped, the governor said the PDP remained the most credible and capable platform to effect the necessary change for the better in 2023 and appealed to Nigeria to exploit the alternative.
He said the party has provision for people who join at any time to realise their aspirations as could be seen in his case.
Speaking at the ceremony, State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Michael Gusa, enjoined the people to mobilise and safeguard their community within the provisions of the law.
Both the Assembly member for Gwer Constituency, Geoffrey Agbatse, and council chairman, Emmanuel Ortserga, expressed appreciation to the governor for the massive construction of bridges and culverts on many rural roads in the area and called for their completion.
One of the leaders among those who decamped, Barrister Donald Lyam, lauded Governor Ortom’s open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment and the chieftaincy laws and said he joined the PDP to strengthen the Attorney General who is an indigene of the area to offer better service to the people.