‘APC Supporters Sit In Beer Parlour From Dusk To Dawn’ – Gov Ortom

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has alleged that supporters of the All Progressive Congress, APC, usually sit from dusk to dawn at beer parlours to insult his government.

Naija News understands that Ortom said this while reacting to viral reports on social media accusing him of referring to the entire people of his Benue as drunkards.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governor was quoted to have said at an event that “if you go round Makurdi town, our people start drinking beer from 9 am and some from there, they will go to sleep, and they come back and insult the governor for not helping them to add value to their lives”.

Ortom has, however, faulted the claims, noting that he was quoted out of context in the alleged statement.

The Governor said he was only referring to a few citizens of the state who usually go to beer parlours, get intoxicated and began to make critics of his administration despite efforts by his government to ensure that the state was not lagging behind in development.

Ortom in the statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur described the report as “completely mischievous misrepresentation”.

He said his comment was targeted at the members of the All Progressives Congress in the State.

The statement reads in part, “We wish to state categorically that the news, especially the caption is a completely mischievous misrepresentation and an attempt to ridicule the person of the governor.

“The Governor was clear that most Benue people know and do appreciate the great developmental strides he is doing for them.

“He regretted that some of those who insult, blackmail, or castigate him unnecessarily, specifically are a few and from the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC who sit in beer parlours for long hours and have conditioned their minds to malign him no matter how much he has done.

“He was clear how these APC supporters do that without cogent or issue-based criticisms but simply out of mischief. He was also clear that critics of his administration should offer constructive criticisms as he does to the federal government”.