The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that he does not have anything against an Idoma person becoming Governor of Benue State.
Ortom said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Nathaniel Ikyur, that the claim by a group, Benue Rebirth Movement, that he wouldn’t want an Idoma person to be elected governor of the state because he hates them is untrue.
Ikyur stressed that the allegation against the Governor concerning the 2023 general election was not correct.
He said that Ortom had deliberately focused on the unity of the state as reflected in fairness his appointments and siting of developmental projects.
He said, “The attention of the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has been drawn to a widely circulated statement by the Benue Rebirth Movement wherein they claimed that the Governor hates the Idoma people and would not want them to be elected into office as governor of the state.
“This allegation against the Governor is spurious and far from the truth, particularly as it relates to the 2023 governorship election in Benue state.
“Since 2015 when Governor Samuel Ortom came to office, he has continued to promote the unity of the state with accentuated vigour. This is also displayed in the now famous ‘Unity Cap’ which he preaches to build unity among all ethnic nationalities in the state and Nigeria in general.
“Of utmost importance to the governor is the oath of office and oath of allegiance he swore to that makes every citizen of the state his primary responsibility. He has displayed this in both his appointments and siting of amenities as no zone in the state lags behind.”
He said that the statement became necessary in view of the conviction that Benue was for all and not just for the Tiv alone “as the AVM Monday Morgan’s Benue Rebirth Movement, BRM wants the public to believe.”
He said that Governor Ortom had counseled the leadership of the Benue Rebirth Movement to reach out to all Benue citizens to get the peoples support in the quest to create a level playing ground for the Idomas to contest for the governorship of the state.
“We advise the Benue Rebirth Movement to do more homework by building trust and confidence with their Tiv brothers in their quest and not to turn and make Governor Ortom an issue in their contest for the governorship of the state.
“Governor Ortom is not against an Idoma man becoming the governor of the State. It is a process that involves everyone.” He added