Former Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has cried out that he is facing persecution from the Government of Benue State under the leadership of Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
Mr. Ortom, in a statement signed on his behalf by Mr. Terver Akase, says since the beginning of this year no day passes without one press statement or the other being released by Fr. Alia’s aides, targeting his predecessor.
“The serial attacks on Chief Ortom are coming on the heels of uncountable petitions the present administration in the state has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies, in addition to the probe panels it set up against the former Governor, as well as the sealing of companies which he founded before he became Governor,” the statement says.
According to the statement, Mr. “Ortom’s only ‘political crime’ has been his pursuit of unity and his willingness to engage with longstanding associates, a development which should be celebrated rather than condemned.”
It concludes that Mr. “Ortom played his part as Governor of the state and has left the stage. Governor Alia now has the opportunity to do better.”
Mr. Ortom left office in 2023 after eight years as Governor. His government, in addition to probing his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, wrote petitions that saw Dr. Suswam spending months in detention facilities and several visits to antigraft agencies.
