By Marcus Ikechukwu
Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, on Wednesday, mocked Samuel Ortom, the outgoing governor of Benue state, saying the people of the state roundly rejected him at elections on account of his handling of security issues.
Shehu who made an attempt to absolve his principal of any blames, said Ortom’s contract was not renewed.
“He failed a Senate election. Even the person he endorsed for the governorship was rejected,” Shehu said.
The presidential spokesman lashed out at Ortom in reaction to alleged sponsored editorials in some national dailies, accusing the presidency of feigning ignorance to a series of attacks and killings in the state.
Shehu said the people of Benue know better than anyone else the true reasons for the situation in Benue.
According to him, if anyone is looking for someone to blame, just ask the people of Benue.
Out of the five governors making up the G-5, Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi lost to opposition political parties.
Shehu alleged that Ortom stubbornly refused to engage with the detailed, holistic approach clearly spelt out by the federal government.
He also accused him of arrogantly choosing his own, destructive path. He blamed the Fulani for every problem that arose.
He ignored numerous intelligence reports passed to him for action. He rejected police findings in investigations that didn’t meet his egotistical worldview. He politicized every life lost on his watch.
