Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government is persecuting him.
Ortom, who lamented that he is the only governor being probed for using security votes, described his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as pa witch hunt.
He urged EFCC to begin its probe of security votes from the Presidency.
The governor, who addressed reporters after a state broadcast in Makurdi, said: “I am the only governor in Nigeria whose security vote is being investigated by the EFCC. Why should Benue be different if not for persecution?
He said: “If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending, it should have started from the Presidency before moving to the states, but this is not the case. I want the whole world to know that this is about persecution and a clear case of witch hunting.
“With the enormous security challenges in the state since I becamse governor, it is surprising that anyone would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.
“The security vote spending being investigated spans between 2015 and 2018, a period of grave security challenges. I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution.
“I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money; I have nothing to hide. I am sure the investigators would find nothing incriminating against me.”
Ortom, who also said he was persecuted for enacting the Anti-Open Grazing Law and his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wondered why he could not associate with any party of his choice.
He reiterated that he defected to the PDP because his interest and that of the people were no longer protected in the APC.
“I should be free to associate with any political party of my choice. After all, they say there are no permanent enemies in politics but permanent interests.
“At this time, the interest of Benue is not being protected by the APC and that is why I have defected. And I think for now, the PDP is best for the state.
A Makurdi High Court has restrained the eight suspended House of Assembly members from proceeding with the impeachment of Ortom.
Justice Theresa Igoche also restrained them from sitting, and upheld their suspension pending the determination of the motion on notice.
She said: “I agree with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) that the applicants have made out a case for the grant of orders sought therein.
“The order also restrains the chief judge of Benue State from receiving or acting on any process or request issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of July 30, 2018, aimed at or started to remove Governor Samuel Ortom pending the determination of the motion on notice.”
Justice Igoche upheld the subsisting order earlier given by the Chief Judge, Justice Adam Onum, restraining the former Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and ex-principal officers from parading as same.
He ordered the security agencies to vacate the Assembly’s premises.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Michael Gusa hailed the ruling, saying as a law abiding government, they will always seek redress in the court.
Governor Ortom has been named leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State.
National Chairman Uche Secondus led three other governors – Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and , Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) – to hand over party structures to Ortom yesterday.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was the sole financier and party leader, was conspicuously absent at the solidarity visit. He is eyeing the Benue North-East senatorial seat, presently occupied by Chief Barnabas Gemade who also defected to the PDP.
Secondus said: “From now, Governor Samuel Ortom is the leader of PDP in Benue State.”
Ortom, on his part, asked the National Leadership to give him the fattest cow.
He said: “I have returned back to my home PDP; I’m the prodigal son and I’m now asking for the biggest cow.”
