Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Friday accused the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, of playing God.
Ortom, who said that the minister had consistently declared that he made him governor in 2015, dismissed the contention saying God and Benue people made him a governor.
Ortom was responding to a statement credited to Senator Akume during a reception held in his honour, in Abuja after his inauguration last Wednesday when the minister narrated how he single handedly made Ortom governor in 2015.
The duo went their separate ways in the build up to the 2019 general election when Governor Samuel Ortom accused his estranged godfather of issuing him a red card from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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The duo boasted to retire each other from politics using the 2019 elections to showcase their strength.
Incidentally, Senator Akume lost his bid to return to the senate for the fourth time while Governor Ortom won his re-election.
Since then, the two Tiv born political leaders were yet to sheath their swords.
In a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, Ortom said both the minister and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Emmanuel Jime, hurled verbal attacks on him.
According to the statement, the minister, apart from accusing the governor of diverting public funds to enrich himself, also declared that he made him governor in 2015.
The statement read in parts: “Jime heaped unprintable insults on the governor, calling him an uneducated man and alleged that the 2019 governorship election was rigged.”
The statement said: “For a man who aspired to lead the state, Jime’s attacks on the person of the Governor are not only unfortunate but also smack of desperation and lack of respect for the same office he sought to occupy.
“ Benue people know that APC attempted to manipulate the 2019 election in the state but could not match the overwhelming resolve of majority of the voters who said that Governor Ortom must return for a second term.
“The antics of APC leadership in Benue State are obviously targeted at sustaining their support base with rethorics and claims of a mandate that was neither given them nor stolen.
It said Governor Ortom had chosen not to join issues with Senator Akume, stating that politics was over and that it was time for governance.
“Senator Akume is now a Minister of the Federal Republic and Governor Ortom has already expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Minister to fast-track development for the benefit of Benue people,” the statement. stated.