In a Channels Television political program, Politics Today, monitored by Clariform on Thursday, the Benue State governor, Mr Smauel Ortom was explosive in his characterization of the situation in the country, while also blaming Channels Television for its failure to hold government responsible.
The governor who is serving his second and last term as governor in Benue State was fielding questions on the situation of things in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially as it concerns the rancor arising from the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party`s presidential candidate.
Also on discussion was the repercussions of Atiku`s decision to choose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State over the River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who was the preferred choice of most of the PDP chieftains who were involved in the selection process.
Governor Ortom in his response became very passionate in explaining why it is very important for all parties to put hands together to ensure the defeat of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari which he says has taking Nigeria “from top to bottom” and even “beneath the bottom”.
“We are going beneath the earth. We are dying. Nothing is functional in Nigeria today, and what we need is for a new regime to take over and take us from bottom to the top”, said Ortom.
“The way we are going, if we continue and we continue to keep quiet, we are also, all of us are also going to be consumed one day”, he added.
The governor went further to warn that it is unlikely the APC will support a free and fair election in 2023, because according to him the APC primary does not suggest they believe in credible election, due process or the rule of law.
He therefore warned that form the way things are going in the country one day the bandits will overrun even the presidential villa as it happened in Afghanistan, when the Taliban took over Afghan`s presidential palace.
Governor Ortom who was at this point visibly angry continued, saying, “Look at what they did in their primaries. They have not followed due process. They do not believe in the rule of law.
“They believe in lawlessness. That is why today bandits have taking over everywhere. We are just waiting for a day we will here that bandits have taken over the presidential villa just like they did in Afghanistan”, said Governor Ortom.
At this point the anchor person, Seun Okinbaloye tried to discourage him from speaking further saying that his “thoughts are extreme”, but Governor Orton could not take any of that.
The governor immediately went ballistic, blasting Channels Television saying, “That is my problem with Channels Television. You will always not want somebody to say the truth…What are you doing to get things right.
“If you don’t want me to appear on your program you tell me. I will always tell you the truth. Things are going bad, Nigeria is going down the drain. Nigeria is collapsing under your watch as a television station that should be telling the truth. You don’t want us to say it. Then you don’t invite me to your programs. That is the truth.”
Speaking further, he asked the anchor person, Seun Okinbaloye, saying, “Is there anything I have said about this government that is not true. You want me to do what? Killings everywhere and you don’t want us to talk?”
“Are you not aware that bandits have kidnapped people in Abuja, the federal capital territory, bandits have kidnapped people there? Today as am talking to you 8 people have been killed in my own state. The other day it was 17, 20, 25. How do you want me to feel?
The governor then ended up putting the whole blame on President Buhari whose government Governor Ortom referred to as “a killer”.
He said “And you want me to come here and be praising you and be praising the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. For what? That government is just a killer,” Governor Ortom concluded.
