The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has challenged Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to tell Nigerians what he has done with the Paris bailout funds and the monthly federal allocations, running into billions of naira, in the last three and half years of his administration rather than accusing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of not having any positive federal presence in the state.
BMO threw this challenge in its reaction to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s comment that majority of people of Benue State are opposed to the re-election of President Buhari and his party because they failed to register any federal presence in the state, and secure lives and property of innocent citizens of the state.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke in Abuja, the group noted that from Governor Ortom’s utterances, it is obvious that his egregious failure in the provision of infrastructure, payment of workers’ salaries and other dividends of democracy for the people of Benue State, after three and half years of his failed administration, is beginning to manifest.
The Buhari group said the Governor should bury his head in shame for owing workers of Benue State over one year salaries running into billions of naira despite bailout funds and monthly federal allocation. “Rather, he has embarked on campaign of calumny to denigrate the integrity and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is on record that the Administration of President Mohammadu Buhari has done more than enough for Benue State and its people in the last three years than the Administration of Governor Ortom which has failed to make any meaningful impact on the lives of the people of the state.
“Governor Ortorm has continued to blame his woeful performance on the state of security in the state as if it is only Benue State that has been experiencing security problems in the country. A Governor like Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State whose state has been experiencing occasional pockets of problems has been paying his workers as at when due and provides dividend of democracy for his people.”
BMO listed the achievements of President Buhari in Benue State to include construction of Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States; patching of potholes, pavement strengthening, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Makurdi – Nasarawa State Border Road, Rehabilitation of 120 Poles Solar Street Lights on Katsina-Ala Bridge and Rehabilitation of Street Lights on Makurdi Bridge in Makurdi.
Others are the approval of the immediate release of N10 billion for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of communities ravaged by herdsmen -farmer’s crises in Benue and other states, dispatch of NEMA team by the Federal Government to provide relief materials to displaced persons, among others.