Coalition of Benue Groups expresses unalloyed support for Ortom *Says no amount of EFCC witch-hunt will sway their support

A Coalition of Benue Groups (CBG) have expressed unalloyed support for the governor of Benue state, Dr. Samuel I. Ortom for his stewardship in Benue state so far.
A press statement released on behalf of the coalition in Abuja, Mr. Yunum Tyosor, the Coordinator, Benue Liberation Front (BLF) said in spite the huge insecurity challenges that plaque the Ortom’s administration, he has been able to achieve significant developmental milestones in his first tenure.
He stated that, if not for the huge insecurity, allegedly perpetrated by herdsmen siege on the state, the government would have achieved much more adding that very few people can achieve what the governor has achieved even in the face of the insecurity that engulfed half of the state.
“The Federal Government, the chief security officer of the country and controller of all security formations across the country watched how Benue people were massacred in their numbers and did almost nothing. In fact, the financing of almost of the entire security operations was done by the state government. Even the EFCC in one of its reports acknowledged monies were paid to the various security agencies in Benue state to fight the alleged herdsmen attacks on the state” he noted.
The coalition flayed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clandestine campaign to soil the image of Governor Ortom just because he has left the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“The EFCC’s degeneration to persecute perceived political opponents of the ruling party is an anathema to democracy and must be condemned by all people of good conscience” he said.
“Because of want of evidence against the governor, the EFCC has embarked on media trial of the governor to please the powers that be at the Aso Rock. Just like they have failed previously, they will continue to fail as the Benue people are solidly behind the governor” he said.
“The little confidence Nigerians have on the EFCC is fast eroding with the new ignoble role they are playing. Indeed, the image of the EFCC under Mr. Ibrahm Magu is fast becoming irredeemable if it doesn’t retrace its steps” he said.
Mr. Tyosor said “following the global condemnation that followed the illegal closure of the Benue state account by the EFCC shows Nigerians cannot be fooled” he said.
According to him, the recent campaign in media by the EFCC that N23bn was diverted by the state governor is mere conjecture as the governor nor anyone in the state can divert such huge amount of money adding that if Ortom had access to such funds, he would have paid salaries and executed more projects. .
“We challenge Mr. Magu led EFCC to commence the investigation of all the states and indeed the federal government over how they have utilized their security votes if indeed it is a professional anti graft agency and not a political attack squad” the coalition said.