Benue State's Governor Ortom says federal government should be held responsible if anything happens to him

BENUE State's Governor Samuel Ortom has sounded an alarm saying that his life is in danger and has warned that should anything happen to him the federal government should be held responsible.

In July last year, Governor dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  and joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming local youths threatened to kick him out of office if he did not. In the March 3 gubernatorial polls, Governor Ortom will be seeking a second term in office as a PDP candidate, where he will be facing a challenge from the APC.

However, earlier today, Governor Ortom accused the federal government of chasing him around since he dumped the APC. Speaking in Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the governor said the federal government should be held responsible if anything untoward happens to him over the next few days.

Governor Ortom said: “If I die today, the federal government should be held responsible."

Since assuming office, Governor Ortom has been involved in bitter spats with Fulani cattle herdsmen across the state, resulting in him passing the Benue Grazing Law, which restricts livestock to specific locations. As a result, Fulani organisations have threatened to ensure he gets voted out of office and the governor has accused the federal government of backing them.