Governor Ortom

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, has refuted rumours that President Bola Tinubu had proposed him for a ministerial position. 

It has been observed that Internet users have been spreading rumours that the former governor made the anticipated ministry list. 

The governor, however, referred to the story as false and misleading and urged people to ignore it in a statement issued by Terver Akase, his media assistant. 

The statement reads, “The attention of the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has been drawn to the speculation on social media that he has been nominated for a ministerial appointment. 

“We urge members of the public to disregard the report as it is false and misleading. 

“Chief Ortom deeply appreciates those who have taken time to call and verify the information”.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, have denied the allegation of corruption and diversion of public funds laid against governors by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

The duo challenged the president to name the governors he accused of stealing and diverting the funds meant for local governments.

The president, at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022), accused the state governors of corruption and diversion of the local government alocations to own personal treasury.

He said the state governors used to collect money on behalf of the council areas in their states and remit just half of such allocation to the council chairman.

He also described the development as one of the major challenges that hinders the country’s development.

However, Wike and Ortom challenged Buhari to name those he claimed were stealing local government funds on Friday at the inauguration of the Mgbuosimini internal road project in Port Harcourt, Rivers capital.

The governors said the president claims could be termed as defamation against the state governors.