By HOPE ABAH EMMANUEL, Makurdi

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said sycophants have taken over the leadership of Nigeria.

Ortom also said the leaders of the country including himself have failed the citizens as nothing significant was happening in every sphere of the nation.

He spoke to journalists in Makurdi shortly after the Church service held at the Chapel of Grace, Government House, Makurdi, to mark this year’s Independence celebration.

“There is nothing to celebrate, that’s why here in Benue state, we choose to celebrate God for giving us life. We cannot celebrate anything; is it the economy close to N600 per dollar?. Is it what?”

“What are we celebrating as a people? We leaders have failed. We leaders have failed this country. Sycophants, mediocres are the ones ruling. They have taken over. Corruption has taken over this country and in every sphere of life, nothing is happening.

“But, we need to celebrate God for keeping us alive, maybe tomorrow we can have a better Nigeria. But for now, I won’t deceive you, there is nothing to celebrate,” he said.

The governor earlier in his remarks during the church service lamented the height of insecurity, disclosing that over 100 security personnel had lost their lives between 2017 till date while trying to provide security for the people of the state.

He commended security agencies in the state for the recent arrest of a notorious outlaw nicknamed “Azonto”, even as he stressed the need for his return to the state so he could face justice.

Ortom further decried the plights of over a million displaced people in various camps across the state just as he urged Nigerians to continue to demand for a country that guarantees justice and fairness for all as in his estimation the nation as at now was far from the dreams of the founding fathers. (Daily Trust)