Attack on Gov Ortom horror against democracy – IPAC laments

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has said the recent attack on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state along Makurdi/Gboko road is an horror on democratic governance in the country.
Recall that gunmen alleged to be herders and bandits were said to have opened fire on Governor Ortom’s convoy along Markurdi/Benue expressway, while returning from his farm in the area.
Reacting to the incident, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), in a statement issued yesterday by its national Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, said the attack on the Governor has clearly indicated the sorry state of insecurity in the country.
According to the statement titled ‘IPAC Condemns Attack on Governor Samuel Ortom’, the council said the attack is outrageous, barbaric and despicable.
“It is inconceivable that the attackers could trail a serving governor and opened fire on him and his aides along Makurdi/Gboko road. He had to run for more than on and a half kilometres to escape being killed by his assailants. Fortunately, security agents attached to him were able to repel them and saved the governor.
“This is a horrific episode and a sad commentary in the annals of democratic governance in Nigeria. It depicts the sorry state of security in the country which IPAC has severally stated and urged the Federal Government to take security of lives and property seriously in tandem with Section 14 (2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“It is obvious that governments at all levels have treated security of the citizens with kid’s gloves such that an executive governor could be attacked by gunmen with impunity. If the chief security officer of the State is not safe, how will he provide security to his people?
“Council urges security agents to swing into action immediately and arrest the perpetrators of this dastardly and cowardly act, and bring them to justice.
“The new military service chiefs, the inspector general of police and director general, Department of State Service should justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in them and make the country safe again”, the statement said.
To this end, IPAC therefore urged Governor Ortom to continue to be decisive, courageous and steadfast in providing good governance and dividends of democracy to the people of Benue State.
It charged him not to be distracted by onslaughts of terrorists, bandits and criminal elements, saying they are out to frustrate his government and destabilize the polity.