“Ortom Is Governor Wike’s Errand Boy” –  Opposition Parties

By Akinwale Kasali

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has come under strong criticism from opposition parties in the State who have described his romance with Governor Nyesom Wike as unwarranted.

The opposition said that the Governor has neglected his primary purpose as the Governor of the State, and turned himself to an errand boy for his Rivers State counterpart.

Governor Ortom is accused by opposition in the State of supporting the political activities of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, at the expense of his (Ortom’s) constitutional responsibilities of providing governance.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Austin Agada, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone on Friday, said Ortom has reduced himself to an “errand boy” to his counterpart in Rivers State in the name of playing politics.

Agada said Ortom has long abandoned the State to pursue his interest which he said has caused a serious setback to the State in the past seven years.

Agada: “He (Ortom)  had long ago attached himself to Wike; this is responsible for his abysmal performance in the past seven years. He has abandoned governance which is the reason everything is in total decay.  He is a disaster to Benue State, he has become an errand boy or may I call him deputy to Wike or an aide to Wike; that is the reason you always see him going around with  Wike.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Joseph Ogli, “I don’t know if it is the tradition of the Peoples Democratic Party to be gallivanting and not sit in their State.

“But I promise you, APGA can not behave like that. Leaving the State and following another Governor is not in our character and if by the grace of God, our party wins the forthcoming governorship election, our candidate, Joseph Waya, will not descend to that level but rather will face governance.”

The Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Herman Hembe, said his priority would be to meet the yearnings of the people if he wins the governorship election in 2023.

Hembe said: “As for me, I am focusing on how to lift my people from underdevelopment. I will focus on the payment of salaries to workers and pensioners and pay more attention to providing employment to the teaming youths.