By Aunde Emmanuel (eaundeblog)
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has fired back at his kinsman and former Minister of Interior, Patrick Abba Moro for saying he (Ortom) does not deserve a second term.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart had described Ortom’s utterance about second term as an affront to the sensibilities of the citizenry in Benue State.
Reacting, however, Ortom said he saw the statements attributed to Moro as not only unfortunate but that it again smacked of a man who did not believe in the works of God.
Ortom in a statement through his media aide, Tever Akase said Moro was yet to recover from the defeat of PDP in 2015.
According to him, Abba Moro appeared pained and jittery over the avalanche of endorsements of Governor Ortom from various sections of the state ahead of the 2019 elections.
The statement reads, “For a man who was Abba Moro’s colleague at the Federal Executive Council, resigned his position as Minister of State and rose against the tide and power of incumbency to become Governor, the former Interior Minister ought to realize that indeed God is the Anchor of the political career of Governor Ortom.
“Moro’s only known legacy is the killing of innocent Nigerians who were seeking employment into Nigerian Immigration Service when he was Minister of Interior.
“His refusal to show remorse and seek forgiveness from Nigerians more than three years after the sad incident only goes to show how he does not have value for human life.
“Abba Moro and his ilk may refuse to appreciate the good work Governor Ortom is doing for the state and accuse him of stopping cultism and thuggery which they promoted but one thing they can’t accuse the Governor of doing is gun running.
“Moro lacks the moral justification to describe the Ortom administration as failure. Since he lost out of power, Abba Moro has been grandstanding as though he does not have a questionable history of public service. But his records in all the public offices he has occupied are available for all to see.
“Abba Moro also alleged the absence of probity in Benue State and I think he needs to be told that Governor Ortom is the first Governor to include labour unions in the State and LG joint account as well as the disbursement of the bailout and Paris Club funds to workers. If these measures do not qualify as fiscal honesty and transparency, we wonder what else can.
“Governor Ortom is the first Governor in a very long time to give the people of the state account of his stewardship breaking down in great detail all financial transactions and obligations the government has undertaken since May 29, 2015.
“The sudden love Moro has developed for Benue people calling on government to pay workers after he took part in the plunder of the state’s resources in eight years under the previous administration when the state was practically brought to its kneels is crass self-glorification and simulated patriotism.
“Governor Ortom cannot be distracted by rehashed boring commentaries from the likes of Abba Moro who is apparently on an uphill mission to relaunch himself into political relevance. If Moro believes that Governor Ortom has not performed well, the best way to go is for him to throw his hat into the gubernatorial contest and allow Benue people to decide.”
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