N62bn Benue fund siezed because I dumped APC ― Ortom

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The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has alleged that the sum of N62 billion due to the state is being withheld because of his defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said N42 billion of the amount is what was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to the state government to offset salaries arrears while N20 billion was sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Infrastructure Development Facility.

The money is beside the N28 billion intervention earlier granted by the federal government with which he said some arrears were paid.

The governor, who spoke Friday on Arise Television programme, ‘The Morning Show’, said despite being fully processed the apex bank would not release the money because some Benue stakeholders were pressed to hold on to it because of political differences.

Though first elected under the platform of the APC in 2015, Ortom later joined the PDP where he was re-elected as the governor.

He was responding to the claim by Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia that the state civil service was in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), said on assumption of office in 2015, he inherited N70 billion in salaries, pension and gratuity arrears.

He said things would have been different in the state if the monies approved were released to his administration.

Ortom stated: “It is an unfortunate statement coming from Hon. Alia, Governor-elect. He’s no longer a reverend father because he was suspended from priesthood and so, I feel sad about what he said.

“Go back to history. Since I came in, the civil servants have not been on strike. There must be a reason for them to understand with me why they should not go on strike because my government has been transparent and ensured equity and fairness in all things that we do in Benue state.

“Go back to history when I took over in 2015. The total salary areas, pension and gratuity were over N70 billion. The federal government did an intervention and we paid.

“There were issues because people alleged that there were diversions of funds and so on. EFCC came in, ICPC came in and we were given a clean bill of health because no single kobo was diverted from the N28 billion that was given to the local governments and the states.

“Now, the remaining balance of about N42 billion. Just as other states were also applying, I did apply but politics will not permit this morning to be given to me.

“As I talk to you, Mr President approved, the Ministry of Finance approved and it went to Central Bank, and because of politics, people rose up from Benue State that the money should not be paid to me because I am no longer in APC. Then, I defected to Peoples Democratic Party. And so, that has been hanging on.

“Everything was done, due diligence was done, DMO had approved, the President had approved, the Minister of Finance had approved, but getting to Central Bank, our people from Benue State rose up that ‘look, if we pay this money to Ortom’s administration, it means we will not have anything to hold on to, to campaign against him in 2023.

“This was what happened. As I talk to you, all the documents I have are there and Central Bank was just to release this money just like they did to any other state. Unfortunately, I found myself here. That money is still pending.

“I tell you, the issue of salaries predates my own administration. Right from the days of (former governor) Aper Aku. Aper Aku owed over 13 months and so on. Today, we are talking about seven months. And of course, I also inherited.

“Whether it was military or (former governors) George Akume or Suswam or Adasu, they also owed salaries. The issue of salaries has been a major problem in Benue state.

“Let me also inform you that Benue State is paying the third highest salary in Nigeria outside Lagos and Rivers State. In the Northern States, Benue State is paying the highest. You can crosscheck these facts because we have done our research and the statistics are there. We have been paying.

“When I came in, I attempted to clear the arrears when I got a N10 billion loan from the bank. But because of various recessions that came and economic hardship, it has not been able to stabilize.

“But in 2018, I decided that salaries must be paid every month and the other seven months that were outstanding, let it be arrears. For the teachers and local governments, it was 10 months. So, this is what has been going on.

“So, it is politics that has led me not to clear the salaries. You had other states that have similar problems, but because they are in APC, they were paid.

“I must commend that President Buhari was not biased. He approved but politics will not allow this money to be remitted.

“And I think why the APC in-coming government is saying that they will clear arrears, it’s because we have already laid the foundation and they want to use that.

“Now, with the APC government, they can take advantage and clear those things.

“The second thing is about infrastructural development. We have done so well in all sectors of the economy. We have reached out to ensure that there is flow.

“We have also secured N20 billion loan from the Central Bank Infrastructural Development facility and yet, this money has been frustrated to be paid to us because we are outgoing but we have done everything.

“It is with the Central Bank and up till today, they have refused to release this money. I am being witch-hunted because I am not in APC.

“If I were in APC government, a long time ago, we will not be talking about clearing salaries. But that notwithstanding, on our own, due to the little savings we have been able to have, we paid pension, we paid gratuity as we have the money.”

Ortom lamented that since the PDP lost the governorship election, armed Fulani herders have returned to the state, killing people and seizing their farmlands.

According to him, 18 of the 23 local government areas are now under renewed siege.

“Thank God, the incoming administration says they are going to allow the herdsmen. I am saying since PDP lost the election and I also lost my senatorial bid, the Fulanis have now taken over the state. That is what we have seen,” he stated.

According to him, the herders kill people and take over their farms “and say that they have taken over and my administration is no longer there. They are going to repeal the anti-grazing law, it is their land, they will take over and so on.”

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