Governor Ortom fumes after security bars him from seeing Osinbajo

Samuel Ortom, Benue State Governor, has critically condemned in very strong terms the action of security personnel at the main entrance of Air Force Base in Makurdi, the State capital, TopNaija reports.

On Saturday, February 12th, 2022, Ortom was denied entrance at the gate of the Air Force base by security personnel on his way to receive the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The Vice President was on his way to Wukuri, Taraba State, enroute Benue to attend the convocation of the Federal University, Wukari.

The Governor described the action by the security personnel as unacceptable, breach of protocol and politics taken too far.

He expressed regret that he had set out to attend the burial of Professor Ignatius Ayua but had to delegate his deputy in order to receive the Vice President when he received a communication via a letter from the presidency intimating him of the Vice President’s transit visit.

The letter addressed to the Governor from the State House Abuja was dated 10th February, 2022, with reference VP/SP/DOP/26 and titled: “visit of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to Wukari, Taraba State transiting NAF Base, Makurdi, on Saturday, 12th February, 2022.”

The letter, which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary, said the Vice President would return through the same route in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, on getting to the main gate of the Air Force, security personnel at the entrance said the Governor’s convoy won’t be allowed in because according to them, they were not informed about the Governor’s visit to receive the Vice President.

The Governor wondered why he should be treated like that by the Air Force personnel in the State where he is the Chief Security Officer.

He vowed to report the matter to the Vice President for necessary action, stressing that there should be a clear difference between politics and governance.

Ortom was elected governor of Benue State as a member of the All Progressives Congress in 2015. He was re-elected as governor on 29 May 2019, and has since been vocal against President Buhari’s administration over failing national issues.