ORTOM DID NOT BUY ARMOURED VEHICLES
Contrary to the report by The Punch in its September 24, 2016 edition which lists Governor Samuel Ortom among other state governors who have purchased expensive bullet proof vehicles, the Benue State Governor has not bought a single armoured vehicle since he assumed office.
The few bullet proof vehicles at the Benue Peoples House are the ones Governor Ortom inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam.
Governor Ortom has demonstrated uncommon prudence in the management of state resources as seen in the reduction of the number of commissioners from 17 to 13 and that of special advisers from 28 to 20 as well as the number of special assistants from the over 500 appointed by the previous administration to 100. The Governor has also slashed his statutory allowances as part of his cost cutting measures.
It is therefore an act of mischief and a deliberate design to paint the Governor and his administration in bad light by the newspaper.
The Punch has a history of getting wrong information about Benue State such as the report in which it alleged that the State House of Assembly had moved to impeach the Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu.
Another instance of misleading reports by The Punch was the SUBEB false contract scam published a few days ago. It is possible that correspondents of the newspaper in the state are paid to tarnish the image of the Ortom administration.
We advise The Punch to retract the false report on bullet proof vehicles as it affects Governor Samuel Ortom or face litigation.
Signed:
Terver Akase
Chief Press Secretary.