Media Aide to former Benue State Governor, Terver Akase, has expressed dismay over Governor Hyacinth Alia’s unduly persecution against the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom.
Henzodaily reports that Akase, in a statement on Friday, said there is no justification for the Governor’s media team’s sustained attacks on Ortom in the volleys of press statements.
Akase claimed it was strange and puzzling that Ortom has come under the barrage of press statements emanating from Governor Alia’s office more than any other name or issue since his exit from office.
According to Ortom’s former aide, no day passes without one press statement or the other being released with its target at the former Governor.
Questioning the rationale behind the attack on Ortom, Akase said Alia is angry with the former Governor for associating with prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He urged Governor Alia to focus on the pressing issues facing the people of Benue State in security rather than the repeated attack on his predecessor.
The statement reads, “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 the 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 to governance was not only reflective of a genuine desire to foster harmony among diverse groups but also aligned with the constitutional rights of freedom of association, which 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 with 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.
“What has Chief Ortom done wrong by simply attending events to rejoice with those who rejoice and sympathize with those in mourning? What do 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. ”