George Okoh in Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Father Hyacinth Alia, has accused his immediate predecessor, Samuel Ortom and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sponsoring vile attacks against him and his government.
The governor made the disclosure in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula, following allegation by the PDP that the governor’s attendance of the remembrance service for the son of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, in Jos was an attempt to compromise the judiciary.
According to the statement, Alia said it was quite sad that at the moment, Ortom had taken to a pastime of consistently, sponsoring vile attacks on the governor of Benue State.
“More saddening, he has now metamorphosed into questioning, suspecting and making innuendoes on anyone, including highly respected Nigerians and revered institutions Alia is seen close to.
“It is shameful that a would-be lawyer has availed himself to be used to denigrate his senior colleagues and the same profession he so cherishes and wishes to practice and it is a fact that the law profession is noble and those who wish to practice it must hold it in very high esteem,” he said.
According to him, the insinuation contained in yet another vile attack on the judiciary for allowing Alia to attend a memorial mass for the late son of Dongban-Mensem was unfortunate, wondering if the President of the Court of Appeal could be easily bought by a mere appearance at her son’s memorial service?
“But many Benue people will agree here that, since the return of democracy in 1999, the APC-led administration has refused to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary, regarding electoral matter.
“The same Ortom sponsoring negative publicity here and there won his re-election in 2019, and despite his consistent vile attacks on the person of the Buhari-led administration, the law was allowed to take its course
“His victory was affirmed by the courts. This would not have happened if it were in the years the PDP held sway at the centre. But the APC administration did not interfere and has continued to do so. Or did the party also play a-behind-the-scene roles to ensure Ortom’s victory was affirmed by the courts?”
The governor explained that the memorial service in honour of the late Prince Paeke Shepnaan, was attended by prominent Nigerians including four serving governors, former governors as well as senators, adding also that he was at the event to represent the Progressive Governors’ Forum just like Sayi Makinde of Oyo State who represented NGF.
