Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom was unceremoniously denied access into the Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi, the state capital on Saturday, February 12, on his way to receive the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Osinbajo was on his way to Wukari, Taraba State enroute Benue to attend the convocation at the Federal University, Wukari.
But the security personnel at the main gate into the military facility refused to grant the governor access, leaving Ortom with no other option but to turn back livid.
Ortom, who described the treatment meted him as unacceptable, a breach of protocol and politics taken too far, expressed regret that he had set out to attend the burial of Professor Ignatius Ayua but had to delegate his deputy in order to receive the Vice President when he received a communication via a letter from the presidency informing him of the vice president’s transit visit.
The letter addressed to the Governor from the State House Abuja was dated 10th February, 2022 with reference VP/SP/DOP/26 and titled: “visit of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to Wukari, Taraba State transiting NAF Base, Makurdi, on Saturday, 12th February, 2022”.
The letter which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Qwary had put the Governor on notice that the vice president would return through the same route in the afternoon.
Ortom was however shocked when he got to the main gate of the Air Force Base and security personnel at the gate refused his convoy passage because according to them, they were unaware of the governor’s visit to the Base to receive the vice president.
A visibly enraged Ortom wondered why he should be shabbily treated by the Air Force personnel in a state where he is the Chief Security Officer.
He told journalists, “It is unfortunate that an ugly incident occurred today, which is a breach of protocol and I feel so sad for our country Nigeria, where everything has been reduced to politics. There are certain things you don’t politicise.
“I was to attend the burial ceremony of one of our elders and leader, Prof Ignatius Ayua; I had made all arrangements to travel to Konshisha Local Government Area, LGA, then this letter was brought to me, that the Vice-President is going to be in transit, through Makurdi to Wukari.
“It is a normal thing, when distinguished dignitaries, like the President or the Vice-President is passing through your state, that the Governor receives him.
“I decided to mandate the Deputy Governor to represent me at the burial of Prof. Ayua. So, this morning, I got prepared and went to the Airforce base, where the Vice President is supposed to land, enroute Wukari and unfortunately, I was bounced at the gate; in my own state.
“It doesn’t happen. This is a breach of protocol and this is not accepted. This is politics taken too far. This is not correct and somebody must account for this.
“If a personality like the Vice President is visiting my state and I cannot go there to welcome him, then it will be a breach of protocol on my part. How can I go to the Airforce base and I am bounced at the gate? I mean, it has never happened anywhere in this country.
“Maybe, the same Presidency that wrote to me is not aware. But I think we should, if we must make progress, to differentiate between politics and government activities. It is government activity that I welcome Mr. President or Vice President and any dignitary that comes here from the Federal Government.
“This is the letter that was written to me, you can see the content. I don’t want to be a busy body. I have many things to do. As I talk to you, the entire Gwer-West is under siege. The Fulani have been burning down houses and I was supposed to go there but I had to shift that to receive the Vice President. I feel so pained that politics has been taken beyond what is supposed to be.”
He vowed to report the matter to the Vice President for necessary action, stressing that there should be a clear difference between politics and governance.
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