Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has slammed the presidency for labelling him a failed politician.
Recall that presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, had earlier on Wednesday described Ortom as a failed governor and politician always looking for excuses.
Shehu was reacting to claims by the governor during a recent interview with Arise TV in which he blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to revive the economy and tackle the rising insecurity in the country.
In a series of posts via his Twitter account, Shehu said that it is surprising that even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to Ortom within its folds.
Responding to Shehu’s claims, governor Ortom urged the Presidency to address the issues he raised during his interview and stop attacking his personality.
The Benue governor made this submission in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesman, Nathaniel Ikyur.
Ortom stated that the Buhari government always resort to mudslinging and attacking personalities who criticize the President, adding that the response has exposed the current administration of being bereft of ideas and indeed empty of tackling the nation’s myriad of problems
He said the Buhari government who has consistently blamed past administrations now finds it convenient to accuse Ortom of blaming others before him.
The statement reads: “The Governor decried the rate at which the sovereignty of Nigeria is daily being compromised with the activities of armed Fulani herdsmen that have continued to kill and sack communities across the country.
“President Buhari’s state of Katsina is badly hit with the activities of these terrorists. It is the President’s failure to secure Nigeria that has allowed terrorists to take over most states.
“This is not the making of Governor Ortom. For more than a year, the Governor has been shut out from seeing the President. Is this too a lie?
“Has President Buhari’s government not spent billions of dollars in ‘Turning Around the Maintenance’ of the nation’s refineries without commensurate results from the facilities?
“Is it Governor Ortom that stopped the President from revamping the country’s refineries after such humongous sums were spent on it? Why did Garba Shehu fail to see all of these but chose to gloss over them?
“It is therefore curious that Garba did not address the issues Governor Ortom raised in the interview with AriseTV. Rather, he went about chasing shadows, trying in vain to paint the governor in bad light. In doing so, he turns to accuse the governor of funding a militia group. This is the height of irresponsibility.
“Rather than take the advice Governor Ortom offers for the collective good of the nation, Garba Shehu and those hired to insult the Governor finds it easy to ignore the weighty issues that bother on national security but rather go about in circles.
“We think the President and his handlers will do well to take Governor Ortom seriously when he speaks than indulging in unnecessary mudslinging.
“It is uncharitable and truly a betrayal of hope for the President Muhammadu Buhari government who has consistently blamed past administrations to now find it convenient to accuse Governor Ortom of blaming others before him.
“This is ridiculous and has exposed the Buhari government of being bereft of ideas and indeed empty of tackling the nation’s myriad of problems.”
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