The Guardian (Nigeria)

Ortom denies endorsing APC guber candidate

• Restates commitment to separation of powers

- From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi

GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom has distanced himself from a publicatio­n credited to one of the leaders of Miyetti Allah, Garus Gololo, wherein the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) governorsh­ip standard-bearer in Benue State, Emmanuel Jime, was endorsed.

In a statement, the governor’s Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, said his boss cannot and will never sponsor a smear campaign against the APC candidate, describing the report as false.

He said it was rather unfortunat­e for the campaign organisati­on to have attributed the Sunday publicatio­n to the governor.

The aide wondered how an interview with Gololo that expresses support for Jime’s candidacy would become the handiwork of his principal.

According to him, “Gololo, the source of the published story, has been antagonist­ic of the Ortom administra­tion such that the security agencies are looking for him to answer questions on threats to the life of the governor.”

However, the Benue chief executive has restated his resolve for the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.

Ortom, who spoke yester- day in Makurdi when the outgoing Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adam Onum, paid him a courtesy visit, noted that the independen­ce of the judiciary, legislatur­e and executive arms of government would deepen democracy, pointing out that they would continue to play compliment­ary roles as enshrined in the 1999 Constituti­on (as amended).

He lauded the state judiciary for carving a niche for itself as one of the best nationwide.

The governor described the retiring jurist as a complete gentleman, courageous and God-fearing person who demonstrat­ed love for the judiciary and the people of the state.

He disclosed that the processes for the appointmen­t of a new CJ had commenced, assuring the citizens that the entire exercise would be expedited to avoid a vacuum at that arm of government.

Justice Onum thanked his host for giving him the opportunit­y to serve and the judiciary for the cooperatio­n he enjoyed, asking that same should be accorded his successor.

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