Ortom calls Wike idle governor as feud between them deepens

The rift between governors of Benue and Rivers states, Samuel Ortom and Nyesom Wike respectively continues to widen by the day.

The Benue governor has described Wike as an idle governor who has nothing else to do but interfere in matters in other states in order to divert attention from the gross failure of governance and stinking corruption in his own state Rivers.

He said, “Wike’s recent interest in affairs of other states, including Benue, is a clear manifestation of an idle governor and an indication that, unlike his counterpart in Benue, Wike has so much time to distract busy governors of other states.”

The two governors have been on a war of words since Wike said Ortom is unfit to remain a governor and asked that a state of emergency be declared in Benue State following the attack in Zaki Biam community in the state that claimed the lives of over 52 persons.

Ortom had then returned it to him and described security situation in Rivers as being worse than Benue, adding, that Wike was running a state with lawlessness.

After the initial attacks, Wike in another interview called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Ortom over what he did with the N12.7billion Paris Club refund to his state (Benue) in December last year.

While he said Benue has remained moribund despite the Paris Club refund and other allocation the governor has been receiving, Wike apparently to spite Ortom, then promised to construct two roads in Benue State.

Read also: KILLINGS: Wike mocks Gov Ortom, calls for state of emergency in Benue

In his second reply to the attack by Wike in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom said that Benue people are witnesses to the fact that the government run by Rivers governor’s political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abandoned 11 roads across the state.

He said as Benue governor, he has since assumption of office, deployed funds and mobilised the contractors back to site.

The statement read, “Governor Ortom has also awarded six new road contracts in different parts of the state and more are being considered by the State Executive Council for approval in spite of the lean resources,” the statement read.

 

 

 

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