Resign, Rivers PDP asks Benue State governor

In a renewed war of words between Rivers and Benue State governments, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, on Wednesday called on the Benue State governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, to throw in the towel if he could no longer cope with the task of leading the people of his state.

In a press statement signed by Mr. Jerry Needam and issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers PDP expressed surprise and sadness that the governor of Benue State “being ravaged by the activities of herdsmen is still indebted to the State civil servants to over nine months of unpaid salaries, and 10 months unpaid salaries of local government employees.”

Chief Obuah alleged in the statement that the Benue state government “had no other way of telling the people that he could no longer cope with the task of governance as the state chief executive than his inability to address the multiple predicaments of the State and non-payment of salaries of workers.

The State PDP chairman berated Governor Ortom for allegedly failing to take advantage of an earlier call on him by the PDP to visit the State for some tutorials on leadership and development strategies under Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, which the party said he lacked as governor and which was responsible for the woes of the State under his watch.

The PDP alleged that over 15 local government areas of Benue State out of the 23 councils have been overrun by the Fulani herdsmen, leaving governor Ortom helpless.

According to the statement, “Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue was currently owing over 9 months salaries to civil servants, 10 months salaries to local government employees and 12 months of pension arrears to pensioners.”