Nathaniel Ikyur, Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, has denied claims made by Joseph Asawa, former Chairman of Ushongo Local Government Area, that Governor Samuel Ortom sponsored an alleged attack on supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar in Gboko.
Ikyur denied the allegations against his principal in a statement released to journalists in Abuja on Friday.
According to Ortom’s aide, the former council chairman cried wolf when there was none.
According to him, Asawa’s false outcry stemmed from an incident that occurred earlier this week during the successful flag-off of the Benue North West Senatorial campaign rally in Gboko.
He claimed that Ortom is known for following the rules and would not resort to using thugs on individuals.
Ortom’s aide said;
Governor Ortom is a stickler for the rule of law. He has never used thugs either during elections or at any other time and so does not patronise them, contrary to the claims by the former council chairman.
It is a fact that Governor Ortom facilitated the nomination and subsequent election of Hon Asawa as the Executive Chairman of Ushongo Local Government in 2020.
He will therefore won’t go back to destroy what he helped build.
From the outbursts of Hon Asawa, it is obvious that he wants to take advantage of the call for fairness and equity by the G-5 Governors which Governor Ortom is a member to be recognised by the camp of the presidential candidate of our party.
We, therefore, urge the general public to discountenance the claims of the former Ushongo chairman that the thugs who allegedly manhandled him during the campaign rally were sent by the Governor.