Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has refuted accusations that he referred to the people of the state as drunkards.
According to various reports, during an event in the state, the governor said, “If you go around Makurdi town, our people start drinking beer from 9 a.m., and some of them will go to sleep, and then they come back and blame the governor for not helping them add value to their life.”
Despite attempts by his government to guarantee that the state would not trail behind in development, the Governor was solely referring to critics of the administration, according to a statement published on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur.
Ortom went on to say that his remark was directed at some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement reads in part, “We wish to state categorically that the news, especially the caption is a completely mischievous misrepresentation and an attempt to ridicule the person of the governor.
“The Governor was clear that most Benue people know and do appreciate the great developmental strides he is doing for them.
He regretted that some of those who unnecessarily insult, blackmail, or castigate him, specifically those from the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, who sit in beer parlors for long hours and have conditioned their minds to malign him no matter how much he has done, are a few and from the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
“He was clear how these APC supporters do that without cogent or issue-based criticisms but simply out of mischief. He was also clear that critics of his administration should offer constructive criticisms as he does to the federal government”.