By Jimitota Onoyume

The war of words between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom, continued, yesterday, as the latter said the former was using the verbal exchange to divert attention from his chain of problems.

Gov. Wike

Governor Wike had in the last one week attacked Governor Ortom, following his alleged inability to stop frequent killing of people of the state by herdsmen.

Reacting to Wike’s attacks in a statement, yesterday, Governor Ortom said: “In what has become a disgusting obsession with Benue and the current governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike,  on March 27, 2017, called for probe of his Benue State counterpart over Paris Club refund. He also lied that he is constructing two roads in Benue State.

“We find the two issues not only laughable but also diversionary. Governor Wike is apparently trying to use Benue to divert attention from the gross failure of governance in Rivers State.

“We hasten to state that Governor Wike is not constructing roads in any part of Benue State. We challenge him to publish evidence of the two roads he claims to be constructing in the state.

“Benue people are witnesses to the fact that the government, run by Rivers governor’s political party, PDP, abandoned 11 roads across Benue State.

‘’It is, therefore, ridiculous that Governor Nyesom Wike, has now become an advocate of development and probity in another state.

‘’Governor Wike’s call for the probe of last December’s Paris Club refund to Benue is a poor diversionary tactic. It is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom was the first to declare the Paris Club refund to Benue and stated specifically how much the state was expecting many weeks before the funds came in.

Rivers Pdp invites Ortom to tour Wike’s projects

Meanwhile, reacting on behalf of the governor, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, extended invitation to Governor Ortom  for a tour of the projects so far driven by Wike’s administration.

Obuah in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, also lamented the collapsed security situation in Benue State, commending Governor Wike for his achievements so far in Rivers State.

He said:  “Any government worth its salt should be able to provide security for lives and property of its citizens, a great feat that the Wike administration has achieved, even in the face of apparent distractions and politicization of insecurity by the opposition party in the state.”

‘’Visiting Rivers State and embarking on tour of developmental projects will avail Gov Ortom the opportunity to tap from Gov Wike’s wealth of experience and success story. This is a passionate invitation to Mr. Ortom, which should not be taken for granted.

‘’No man knows it all. If your style of leadership does not work, learn and adopt Gov Wike’s proactiveness in governance.”

‘’To end the pains of our brothers, sisters and fellow countrymen in Benue State, we call on Gov Samuel Ortom to visit Rivers State and tap from Governor Wike’s security and developmental projects concept and expertise. Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom is unable to pay monthly salaries of civil servants running into several months, after borrowing over N60 billion  in 7 months.”