APC’s call for Ortom’s impeachment, ‘is lame distraction’ – Akase

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Benue State governor, Mr Terver Akase has described calls by the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as lame distraction’, which cannot stand the test of time.

He said, the call coming at this time by the party at in the State whose government in power at the centre failed to tackle insecurity of terrorism and banditry was to cover up their failure.

In a statement he issued to journalists on Friday, Akase noted that the APC’s press conference which was addressed by its State Publicity Secretary, was a clear attempt to divert attention from the concerns, fears and focus of Benue people and other Nigerians on the disturbing matters of insecurity occasioned by the failure of the Federal Government which Governor Samuel Ortom has constantly been speaking about.

According to him, the lame distraction of APC was long expected, adding that, though the voice was that of the Publicity Secretary, the hands are that of the APC leader in Benue, Senator George Akume.

Akase recalled how George Akume sponsored eight out of thirty House of Assembly members to impeach governor Samuel Ortom in 2018 because the governor dumped the APC for PDP, saying that the plot failed because the governor stood on the side of people.

The statement which was obtained by CAPITAL POST read: “We are aware that the APC press conference in Makurdi on Friday was a ridiculous response to Governor Ortom’s recent call for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari on account of his inability to lead the country.

“Their outing was also an attempt to divert attention from the plethora of problems facing the APC in Benue State arising from their yahoo yahoo primary elections which aftermath is the court cases instituted by aspirants of the party, as well as their deepening crisis over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate.

“APC is in shambles in Benue State and the only way for them to breath is to launch media attacks on Governor Ortom.

“An attack on the Governor earns them instant ‘commendation’ from the Villa.

“We expected APC to address the confusion within their party and not raise infantile allegations over local government administration. A party that thrives on imposition and marginalization while abhorring justice and equity lacks the moral standing to question anyone on accountability.

“Our response to APC’s allegation that Governor Ortom has been mismanaging local government funds is simply that he who accuses should provide proof.

“We challenge APC to publish evidence to back their claim that the Governor has turned local governments to his private use and has been diverting funds meant for the councils.

“They should spare Benue people of the stress in searching for the proof. It is on record that in the last seven years, under the Ortom administration, three different local government elections have been conducted and three sets of council chairmen duly elected.

“The APC should be worried that it was unable to field candidates for the last local government election in Benue. How was Governor Ortom responsible for the party’s failure to present candidates for the council polls?

“It can be confirmed that Governor Ortom has ensured that leaders of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT and several labour unions, as well as the association of local government councilors are members of the Joint Account Allocation Committee in Benue State.

“The unions know precisely how local government funds are administered. APC in Benue State has every reason to be desperate owing to the mass defection of its members into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the 2023 elections draw closer.

“A party which suffered a devastating defeat in 2019 and is now facing another defeat in 2023 has justification for distress.

“The pain of the impending defeat of APC is inevitably similar to circumcision. The cry of a baby does not stop it. Governor Samuel Ortom remains committed to serving his people and standing with them.

“He will neither be discouraged nor distracted by the sponsored media assault.”