I’m ready for probe, Ortom declares

The Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has offered himself to be probed by the incoming administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, as there is nothing to hide.

Ortom who made this assertion during an interview on AriseTV, which was monitored by our correspondent, maintained that he has governed the State transparently.

He said at the moment, he is concerned with ensuring a seamless transition and has set up his team as well as extended a hand of fellowship to the Governor- elect to join his team in accomplishing this task.

The Governor added that he is already writing his hand over notes and also directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to do the same.

Ortom, however, warned the incoming Governor from interfering in his affairs until he is sworn-in on May 29, 2023, insisting” until then I remain Governor and will continue to execute my work”.

“I have extended a hand of fellowship and asked him to nominate people to join my transition committee. They will work together. We have nothing to hide. We are prepared to give everything that is needed and ensure a seamless transition to the new administration. I do not have any quarrel with them. I know that the man who contested with him has issues and has gone to the Tribunal.

“My duty is to work out a transition that will hand over power to him and that I am committed to do and have no issues with that whatsoever. I want to admonish him to wait when he takes over, if you want to probe, you probe. If you want to find out certain things that happened during my 8 years tenure, you can go ahead and do it.

“But, now I am the Governor of Benue State until May 29,2023 and will continue to execute my work till when I handover to him and he will be sworn in.

“Whatever he has for the people of the State, he can go ahead and do it. I will advise him to concentrate on what he will do better than what I have done so that he can be appreciated. I am willing to handover to him peacefully and have chosen not to be involved in violence in any form so as not to aggravate the problem of our people. That is why people may think we were taken unaware.

“My duty is to prepare handover notes which I am already doing and have set up my team. Every MDA is preparing handover notes and if there are any issues arising thereof, we are ready to respond to them”, Ortom added.