Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday said citizens of the state were opposed to second term bid by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) because they have failed to register any positive federal presence and secure the lives and property of the people.

The governor made the position of the state clear when he played host to cultural entertainers at the Government House, Makurdi.

“Majority of the people of the state are opposed to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, because they have failed to register any positive federal presence in the state and they have also failed to secure lives and property of innocent citizens of the state.”

The governor added that people of the state were not against the Fulani, citing the votes they gave to former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Yar’Adua, who were from that race.

According to Ortom, the two presidents reciprocated the support they received by patronising Benue people through federal appointments as well as projects.

Former governor of the state, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, who was also at the event, said he and his successor (Ortom) had pledged to forge lasting partnership for the progress of the state.
Both Ortom and Suswam said they had buried their hatchets and had resolved to work together.

Suswam, who implored the people to vote Ortom in 2019, appealed to Ortom’s lieutenants to touch base with their communities and give them the current information about his achievements and his challenges.

He urged his successor to repose confidence in God, who he said was able to resolve challenges that were beyond man in his favour.

The governor, however, expressed appreciation to Tiv Traditional Council (TTC) for brokering peace between him and his successor, pointing out that they were better united than maintaining a cat and dog relationship.

•Text (excluding headline) sourced from New Telegraph report

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