I am Constructing 2 Major Highways And 17 Other Roads In Benue - Governor Ortom Dismisses Wike's Claims

The royal rumble and tongue lashing between the Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom  and his Rivers state colleague,  Nyesom Wike, has gathered momentum after the governor claimed he was constructing the Aliade-Onu-Obarike-Ito-Otukpo and Makurdi-Naka-Adoka roads. The Benue governor ,however has described such claims as false ,describing it as a tissue of lies.

In reacting to the publications in some dailies, Ortom asked if the N4 billion Wike claimed he had spent on the road was captured in the 2017 budget of Rivers State Vanguard reports.

Ortom's Special Adviser, Media, and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, in a statement said there was no evidence that Wike did what he claimed to have done.

He continued, 

 “We read reports in a few national dailies on March 30, attributed to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that there were plans to disrupt his road projects in Benue State. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Benue State does not lack road projects under the Ortom administration, which has mobilised contractors back to site on 11 roads abandoned by Governor Wike’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, regime in the state.

“In spite of the recession, Governor Ortom is also constructing two major highways and 17 rural roads across the state, while contracts have been awarded for six other highways.

“Governor Wike’s claim was ridiculous because Benue State is not part of his state and even if he had constructed all his roads, he needed to have contacted stakeholders in Benue State, especially those from the benefitting communities.

“There is no evidence that he did that.”