Tiv Youth Group Slams Samuel Ortom Over Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group,  under the aegis of The Tiv Youth Council Worldwide,  has urged  Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, to concentrate on Governance and payment of Workers salary rather than scoring cheap popularity by constantly attacking President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Youth Group said the Governor should concentrate on redeeming his name and improving the lot of workers in the state other than “making headlines using the name of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

Hon. Mike Msuaan, President of the Youth Group, made this remark while reacting to Ortom’s response to President Muhammadu Buhari’s interview with Channels Television a few days ago.

In a statement by the Group, it said the Governor appears to be oblivious of the fact that he has taken Benue State 20 years backwards and has become a clog in the wheel of development in the State.

“The Governor talks like an ordinary citizen forgetting that he is the Chief Security Officer of the state who has a responsibility to protect, develop and cater for the well-being of the people of Benue State.

“The Governor seems to forget he is the only Governor in the history of Nigeria who had pensioners sleep at the gate of a government house for almost two weeks to protest the protracted none payment of pensions and gratuities. Hunger pushed these pensioners to abandon their homes.To them it was better to die at the gate of Government House.

“Under Governor Ortom, poverty appears to have situated a headquarters in the State. With his inability to pay workers and pensioners in a civil service dominated state, the people have become extremely poor and unable to feed and clothe their families. Workers in the state have not been able to enjoy the minimum wage despite several deceptive press releases by the Governor directing immediate implementation of the minimum wage for workers.”

A Statement by Governor Ortom days ago called on President Buhari to declare Miyetti Allah, MACBAN, and Fulani Nationality Movement as terrorist organisations just as the Federal Government have declared Bandits as terrorists.

This has, however, generated a lot of controversy, mixed feelings from different quarters for, and against the Governor.