NewsSecurity Personnel Allegedly Bar Ortom From Receiving Vice-President Osinbajo

Security Personnel Allegedly Bar Ortom From Receiving Vice-President Osinbajo

February 12, (THEWILL) – Security personnel attached to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Saturday, allegedly denied Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, from entering the Air Force Base, Makurdi, on his way to the flight line to receive the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

THEWILL gathered that Vice-president Osinbajo was on his way to Wukari, Taraba State, enroute Benue to attend the convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Wukari and Governor Ortom, who had received a letter of notification from the presidency to that effect, was scheduled to receive him at the Makurdi end.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after returning from the Airforce Base, the visibly angry Governor, who condemned in very strong terms, the action of the security personnel, described it as “unacceptable, breach of protocol and politics taken too far”, even as he promised to report the matter to the Vice President.

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He expressed regret that he had set out to attend the burial of Professor Ignatius Ayua, but had to delegate his deputy in order to receive the Vice President when he received a communication via a letter from the presidency intimating the governor of the vice president’s transit visit.

The letter addressed to the Governor from the State House Abuja was dated 10th February, 2022, with reference VP/SP/DOP/26 and titled: “visit of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to Wukari, Taraba State transiting NAF Base, Makurdi, on Saturday, 12th February, 2022”

The letter, which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary said the vice president would return through the same route in the afternoon.

The short press briefing by the Governor is reproduced hereunder;

“Gentlemen of the press, it is unfortunate that an ugly incident occurred today, which is a breach of protocol and I feel so sad for our country Nigeria, where everything has been reduced to politics. There are certain things you don’t politicise.

“I was to attend the burial ceremony of one of our elders and leader, Prof Ignitius Ayua; I’d made all arrangements to travel to Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA), then this letter was brought to me, that the Vice-President is going to be in transit, through Makurdi to Wukari

“It is a normal thing, when distinguished dignitaries, like the President or the Vice-President are passing through your state, that the Governor receives him.

“I decided to mandate the Deputy Governor to represent me at the burial of Prof. Ayua. So, this morning, I got prepared and went to the Airforce base, where the Vice President is supposed to land, enroute Wukari and unfortunately, I was bounced at the gate; in my own state.

“It doesn’t happen. This is a breach of protocol and this is not accepted. This is politics taken too far. This is not correct and somebody must account for this.

“If a personality like the Vice President is visiting my state and I cannot go there to welcome him, then it will be a breach of protocol on my part. How can I go to the Airforce base and I am bounced at the gate? I mean, it has never happened anywhere in this country.

“Maybe, the same Presidency that wrote to me is not aware. But I think we should, if we must make progress, to differentiate between politics and government activities. It is government activity that I welcome Mr President or Vice President; that I welcome any dignitary that comes here from the Federal Government.

“This is the letter that was written to me, you can see the content. I don’t want to be a busy body; I have many things to do.

“As I talk to you, the entire Gwer-West is under siege. The Fulani have been burning down houses; and I was supposed to go there, but I had to shift that to receive the Vice President. I feel so pained that politics has been taken beyond what is supposed to be.

“There is no permanent enemy or permanent friend in politics. Tomorrow I can be the best friend of the President, if they choose to do the right thing. I do not have any problem with the President or Vice President and all the things that I say are meant to add value to our development and get things right.

“I have never insulted the President, the Vice President or the Federal Government, but there are certain things that they are doing which are wrong that should be corrected.

“You will recall that even the Executive Order 10, where does the President in a democratic setting have the right to issue decrees? Maybe because he was once a military ruler, he still believes that he would be issuing decrees. He does not have the right.

“How can the President usurp the powers of the National Assembly? These are the things that I criticise and it is constructive. And today, thank God I am vindicated because the Supreme Court has ruled that the President does not have powers to be issuing decrees. He is no longer a military President, he was democratically elected by the people.

“So, if he wants anything he should pass it through the National Assembly, just like I do when I want anything I pass it through the state House of Assembly.

“It is very unfortunate that this presidency is barefooted, it is lame duck. And that is why we are having all these insecurity problems in our country today. That’s why the economy of this country is going down.

“How can you bar a governor in a state where you are? What is the meaning of that? I feel so pained and I’m going to report this to the Vice President. Well, if they choose to do something, fine. If they don’t, it’s okay. But that is the kind of thing, they want us to remain as a banana republic.

“We don’t have a constitution. Can’t you differentiate politics from this thing? Have I insulted the President? Have I insulted the vice President? All that I’m saying is that let the right thing be done. Let there be justice, equity and fairness. It is unfortunate.

“I will report this breach to the Vice President, because it was protocol for me to have gone to receive him and then see him off and receive him to come back. It’s really unfortunate. I feel very sorry.”

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