From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have differed on the invitation of immediate past Governor of the State Samuel Ortom by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ortom was grilled on Tuesday 20th June, 2023 at the Zonal office of the Commission for over 9 hours.
It wasn’t clear who petitioned the former governor to the anti-graft agency.
Reacting to the development, the PDP in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Bemgba Iortyom, commended the former governor for voluntarily submitting himself to answer questions about his eight years tenure in office before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, describing it as ‘exemplary’ and ‘reflecting clarity of conscience’.
The party noted that the former governor’s action also depict him as a man of his words as it fulfills promises he made while in office that at the end of his tenure, he will be willing to give open account of all that he did in execution of the mandate vested to him as governor by the Benue electorate.
“PDP notes that while this won’t be the first time a former governor will be answering questions before the anti -graft body, Ortom’s case is remarkably distinct for the lack of rancour and acrimony which usually attends such appearances.
“The party is satisfied that Ex-Governor Ortom’s conduct is a clear reflection of his having no skeletons in his cupboard which he should be running away from, as “only the guilty usually are afraid”.
“We urge other holders of public office to emulate the Ortom standard by discharging their duties and responsibilities while in office within the confines of law so they may be able to come to open account when called upon without any fear”, PDP stated.
However,the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Daniel Morgan Ihomun lauded the action of the EFCC, ssying ‘the party received with renewed hope, the arrest of the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for charges bordering on Financial misappropriation, Money laundering and abuse of public trust!
“The APC in Benue state sees the move by the EFCC as a necessary step towards making the former governor and his cronies account for what they did with the over 700 billion income that accrued to the state in the last eight years of their leadership, when salaries and pensions were not paid with no infrastructure built for the state
The APC urges the EFCC and other anti graft agencies to carry out their investigations without fear of blackmail and intimidation from any quarters. The party wondered why the PDP in Benue State instead of apologizing to the people of the state for the waste, the eight years of the Ortom led administration foisted on the state, leaving behind a debt profile of about 180 billion, has instead , shamelessly resorted to praise singing and hero worshipping and insulting the sensibilities of the people”, Ihomun said.
