The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has condemned in very strong terms the action of security personnel at the primary entrance of Air Force Base in Makurdi, the State capital.

Governor Ortom, on Saturday, February 12th, 2022, was denied entryway at eviction of the Air Force base by security personnel on his method to get the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The Vice President was on his way to Wukuri, Taraba State, enroute Benue to go to the convocation of the Federal University, Wukari.

The Governor described the action by the security personnel as unacceptable, breach of procedure and politics taken too far.

He expressed remorse that he had actually set out to go to the burial of Professor Ignatius Ayua but needed to delegate his deputy in order to receive the Vice President when he received an interaction through a letter from the presidency intimating him of the Vice President’s transit go to.

The letter dealt with to the Governor from the State House Abuja was dated 10th February, 2022, with reference VP/SP/DOP/ 26 and titled: “check out of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to Wukari, Taraba State transiting NAF Base, Makurdi, on Saturday, 12th February, 2022.”

The letter, which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary, stated the Vice President would return through the same path in the afternoon.

On getting to the main gate of the Air Force, security personnel at the entryway said the Governor’s convoy will not be allowed in due to the fact that according to them, they were not informed about the Governor’s visit to get the Vice President.

The Governor questioned why he must be dealt with like that by the Air Force workers in the State where he is the Chief Security Officer.

He pledged to report the matter to the Vice President for essential action, stressing that there ought to be a clear difference in between politics and governance.