How Akume plotted to impeach me in 2018, Ortom narrates

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has alleged that an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, George Akume, plotted to impeach him in 2018.

The governor who was reacting to comments by Akume earlier in the week also threatened to sue the minister over “cheap lies and blackmail”.

“In 2018, Akume instigated members of the state assembly to impeach me and they resisted by impeaching the then speaker”.

NewsWireNGR recalls the presidency and Ortom have been exchanging words over the years due to the spate of insecurity in Benue state.

Ortom while speaking at the government house, Makurdi, on Wednesday said; “The minister lost his senatorial ambition in 2019 because of his abysmal performance and now he has gone all out to vent his anger on me by destabilising my government, but I am not deterred because this is not the first time”.

“I don’t want to join issues with the minister but I have to put the records straight for all Nigerians and beyond to know, because all the allegations by the minister in the said press conference were cheap lies and blackmail, it is just to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it, so let him explain all the allegations at the court.”

“So, we will meet at the court,” Ortom added.

Akume had earlier in the week called on Ortom to tender “unreserved apology” for his “unwarranted and ill-motivated” comments on Buhari during a Channels TV interview.

According to the minister, Ortom’s comment was “unwarranted and ill-motivated attack has been going on for over one year now, and it seems Buhari’s silence and incredible display of magnanimity to the Governor and the people of Benue has not been enough to pacify him.

“?We cannot, however, stand by and watch this brazen show of shame by the governor through infantile and irresponsible public statements on the President.

“And the possible destruction of the cordial relationship, the state as a federating unit has always enjoyed with the centre”.