Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has explained why he made his vehicle available to Peter Obi during the former presidential candidate’s visit to the state last Tuesday.
Ortom, through his media aide, Terver Akase, said refusing to assist Obi with transportation would have been petty, considering that Obi is a former governor and a prominent political figure who was visiting the state on a humanitarian mission.
Ortom was responding to allegations by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia that he was behind Obi’s visit to the state.
Ortom said, “Statesman who understands the demands of public service and the obligations that come with leadership. It is therefore both ridiculous and shameful for anyone to attempt to criminalise or politicise the simple act of making a vehicle available to a fellow Nigerian leader.
“Peter Obi is a former governor, a presidential candidate and one of the most prominent political figures in the country. Imagine how it would have sounded if Chief Ortom had refused to assist him with transportation while he was in Benue on a humanitarian mission to visit internally displaced persons.
“Such a refusal would rightly have been viewed as petty, inhospitable and beneath the dignity of a former governor. Indeed, extending such a courtesy should ordinarily have been the responsibility of the Benue State Government itself, given the status of the visitor.
“That the Alia administration is now trying to make a controversy out of what was merely a humane, courteous and statesmanlike gesture exposes the poverty of its argument and the desperation behind its propaganda. In other climes, leaders are commended for extending courtesies across political divides, not vilified for doing so.
“The attempt to portray an act of hospitality as evidence of wrongdoing is both intellectually dishonest and politically immature.”
On the allegation that he was being “double-faced”, Ortom described the accusation as “laughable”, insisting that he was a man of his word and would stand by any candidate he had publicly declared his support for.
He explained that he publicly supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election but has now declared his support for President Bola Tinubu.
The disagreement between Alia and Ortom followed Obi’s unsuccessful attempt to visit Yelewata in Benue State.
Obi had arrived in Makurdi last Tuesday and planned to proceed to Yelewata to offer condolences to families affected by the June 2025 massacre. His convoy was, however, stopped by some youths around Gyado Villa, a few kilometres from the airport.
Following the incident, Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, accused Ortom of facilitating Obi’s visit.
Tersoo alleged that the former governor masterminded the visit by the NDC presidential candidate and claimed that Ortom, despite publicly expressing support for Tinubu, was working for Obi ahead of the 2027 election.
The governor’s media aide also said the state government’s investigation had linked the vehicle used to convey Obi from Makurdi Airport to Ortom.
“Benue State Government had commenced an investigation into the alleged incident, and the information obtained so far indicated that the vehicle used to convey Obi from the Makurdi Airport was linked to former Governor Ortom.
“Obi was seen driving in Mr Samuel Ortom’s Sports Utility Vehicle, Toyota Land Cruiser, with registration number ABUJA: GWA 608 BT.”
Tersoo said the details of the vehicle were obtained through Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) vehicle information records.
He said, “Investigation linked the vehicle to Samuel Ortom. The vehicle was registered in his name and associated with his Judges Quarters address in Makurdi. The report also identified the vehicle’s chassis details, application date and other registration information.
“Other details of the vehicle, as obtained from a basic check across the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) vehicle information report, include:
“The question is, how can someone who publicly says he is working for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu make his vehicle available for the use of another presidential candidate?”
