Benue Politics: FG Withdraws Security From IDP Camps
From Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
Following the political disharmony playing out in Benue state in the last few weeks, the federal government has withdrawn all security officers posted to the eight camps housing Internally Didplaced Persons, IDPs.
State Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this in Government House in Makurdi, when he received the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, led by its Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and other PDP Governors.
Ortom had said “I have just been told that as part of my intimidation and persecution, the IG of police has directed that all police be withdrawn from the eight IDP camps in the state in addition to the sealing of the Assembly complex”.
He lamented that inspite of court orders that the IG of police should withdraw his men and vacate the State Assmbly, they have carried on with impunity.
He called on President Buhari to rise to his responsibility as one who has sworn to protect to constitution of the country, and also protect the same democracy that made him president.
According to him, the IG of police and the DSS are all his appointees and he cannot watch them operate with such impunity and allow them to go scort free.
Ortom who explained that he is being persecuted for his firm resolve to protect the Benue people and his defection to the PDP said he will not be deterred or shaken no matter the height of intimidation and blackmail.
The Governor thanked the party NWC and the Governors for their solidarity visit and declared that Benue remains a PDP State.
He pledged to work together with party leaders like Sen. David Mark, Gabriel Suswam and others to ensure victory for the party from ward level to national leveI saying, “I went on a journey and I’m back. As your prodigal son, I am waiting to have the fattest cow”.
Earlier, the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus called on Nigerians to rise up and resist the APC government as a party of killings and impunity.
Prince Secondus who said they were in Benue to pay solidarity to Ortom and strengthen him in the face persecutions he is facing assured that as a party, they stand by him.
He therefore urged him to ignore all the false allegation brought against him as a result of his defection from the APC assuring that a minority faction of right people had no power to impeach him from office.
