PDP Belittles Akume’s State of Emergency Call
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the Department of State Service, DSS, to invite the former governor of Benue State, and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume over his call for the imposition of a state of emergency on the State, and the rise of terrorism and mass killings.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party had said: “This attack on Governor Ortom is an unpardonable assault on the generality of Benue people, particularly, the victims of the bloody attacks in the State. The PDP describes Senator Akume’s call for an emergency in Benue as thoughtless, reckless and reprehensible.
“The party notes that the call exposes Akume’s desperation to destabilise the State, having become frustrated that despite the travails they face, the people of Benue had remained united and refused to break their ranks under Governor Ortom.
” Indeed, such sinister call can only come from an individual who is desperate to perpetuate and draw political capital from the bloodletting in the state, as means to subjugate further and erode the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the Benue people.”
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that despite the killings, bloodletting and wanton destruction of property, in which eminent citizens of the state have lost their lives, Senator Akume, a former governor of the state, elected Senator and now a minister of the Federal Republic, has never condemned the killings or sought any form of redress or succour for the people”.
Vanguard reported Monday that “Senator Akume who doubles as the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue state, had in a press conference held Monday, in Abuja berated Governor Ortom for his outbursts over the worsening insecurity in the country and the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government to stem the tide”.
The Minister further accused ortom of corruption and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to beam their searchlights on him.
According to the Senator: “We call on Governor Samuel Ortom to tender an unreserved apology to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for using foul language and for operating outside the set rules of engagement between the State and the Federal Government.
“Since Governor Ortom has consistently alleged that the security situation in Benue State has deteriorated in such a manner that lives of Benue people are not secured, we call on Mr. President as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to declare a state of emergency in Benue State to bring the security situation in the state under control.”
