APC playing opposition role, ignorant of governance at the centre –Ortom

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks the understanding of the job of a party in control of power at the centre.

He stated this on Saturday, adding that the ruling APC has now assumed the role of the opposition and goes about spreading lies and falsehood.

Ortom was reacting to a report by the state chapter of APC that his government was seeking approval from the State House of Assembly to enable it access a N10 billion loan facility.

But speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom said he would never allow himself be distracted by the “torrent of lies” being dished out against his government by the APC.

“We urge the people of Benue State and other Nigerians to disregard the report being circulated by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC that the Benue State Government is seeking approval from the House of Assembly to enable it access a N10 billion loan.

“The State Government has not made such a move and it does not intend to take a N10 billion loan, contrary to the report.

“This particular lie smacks of frustration and fury within the APC camp to drag the name and office of Governor Samuel Ortom to disrepute, having failed in all their previous attempts to remove the Governor through illegality and impunity.

“For a party which still controls power at the centre, the APC appears not to understand the job of a governing party and has assumed the role of opposition.

“The party’s latest false claim that the State Government plans to obtain the alleged loan is the height of desperation by a political party bent on misleading the public.

“We reassure the good people of Benue State that the government has met all requirements set by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the recently recalled Paris Club refund will soon be returned to the state for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

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“Governor Ortom remains focused on the task of delivering good governance to Benue people and will not be distracted by the torrent of lies and organised smear campaign against him by enemies of the state,” the statement read.

Ortom recently left the ruling APC and defected back to his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Perceived failures of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC to end herdsmen killings, which Benue has remained one of the greatest casualty states, is believed to have informed Ortom’s dumping of the APC.

 

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