Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that security personnel have barred him from entering the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Base Makurdi to receive the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday.
Governor Ortom stated that he received a letter of notification dated February 10, 2022, from the state House Abuja baring him from receiving the number two citizen of Nigeria who was transiting through the NAF Airport to Wukari in Taraba state by helicopter.
He stated that he was stopped at the airport gate by security agents who denied him access to the NAF facility to receive the Vice President.
“It is a normal thing, when distinguished dignitaries, like the President or the Vice President, is passing through your state, the Governor receives him. Unfortunately, I was barred at the gate in my own state.
“I feel so sad for our country Nigeria where everything has been reduced to politics. There are certain things you don’t politicize”. He stated.
The Governor maintained that it is a breach of protocol which has never happened in the country, insisting that he will report it to the Vice President.“It is really unfortunate. I feel very sorry. And those who are keeping quiet, I tell them, one day, they will not be where they are. We must come out together and condemn the evil that is happening in our country. This is not right.” He added.
Recall that on several occasions, Governor Ortom accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being sympathetic to gunmen he alleged to be Fulanis attacking some communities in Benue state, a claim the Presidency described as baseless.
Governor Ortom was a Minister under the People’s Democratic Party PDP but joined the All Progressive Congress APC ahead of the 2015 elections, a party through which he clinched the Governorship ticket and won the election.
He rejoined the PDP in 2018 a decision many people described as the repercussion of counter-attacks between the Government House in Makurdi and the Presidency in Aso Rock.
