In a birthday message to Ortom signed by its President, Mike Msuaan, the group said it had severally drawn the attention of the governor to the lapses of his two terms in office.
“On this day of your birth, and remarkably the last days of your 8-year tenure as governor of Benue state, you must reflect on your leadership, stewardship and legacies.
“Recall your Excellency, that on several occasions, we have had no option but to publicly draw your attention to your dismal performance which has stagnated the state over these years. We had in our patriotism listed several areas of leadership deficit during your tenure.
“With a few days to hand over to a new government, it is pertinent to ponder over a few things”, the message read in part.
The group lamented that for 8 years, the governor failed to make the most of the confidence reposed in him, which he said, led to his defeat in the Benue North Senatorial District election on February 25 this year.
“This is a clear indication that the Benue people did not see you in such borrowed robes and the moment an opportunity cropped up, they rejected you. The celebration that has greeted the victory of the All Progressives Congress in the state is a clear testimony. Benue people feel they have been set free from King Pharaoh and Egypt,” it noted.
It added, “How many federal projects have you attracted to the state? Not even one, Your Excellency. The numerous federal projects in the state are as a result of Mr President’s magnanimous disposition and the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen George Akume.
“You have failed as governor of the state and woefully as leader of your party. I put it to you that the humiliating defeat and devastating loss of the PDP in the state is simply because of you.
“The Benue people rejected and revolted against you solely. Never in the history of the state has such ever happened. Your predecessor, Sen Suswam did not suffer such rejection.
“The margin of win between the winner and candidate of the APC, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia and your allegedly imposed candidate, Hon Titus Uba is such that has never been witnessed in the past. This was possible because the people felt they were voting against you.
“Just when one thought you would begin a remorseful self-examination and begin to seek forgiveness, you introduced a pension bill for yourself aimed at paying you huge sums of monies and other benefits.
“But you have treated pensioners with disdain. Protests by pensioners whose only crime is to have served the state meritoriously and to have you as governor within these years has become almost a daily occurrence in the state. Workers are worse off. The civil service has been annihilated under your watch.
“Your government has no life and could best be likened to a rocking chair, making all the noise without any significant movement. Not even a single problem that you met or that cropped up under your tenure has been solved.
“Very disturbing is the number of people in Internally Displaced Person camps. You will be leaving more people in IDP camps than any administration before you. There have been no concerted efforts from you to rehabilitate, resettle and return these people to their ancestral land,” the group added.
