Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom was barred on Saturday morning from receiving the Nigeria Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo at the Nigeria Air force base Airfield.
The Vice President was to visit Wukari in Taraba state, to attend the convocation ceremony of the Federal University through the Air Force base in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The governor following the visit was notified through a letter with reference number, VP/SP/DOP/26, dated 10th February, 2022, informing him of the visit of the Vice President.
The letter titled: “visit 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” which was signed by Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary said the vice president would return through the same route in the afternoon.
Unfortunately as he was at the gate of the Makurdi Airforce base, Saturday morning to receive the vice president, he was denied entry into the place by the security men, who claimed they were not informed about the governor’s visit to the base to receive the vice president.
Speaking, governor Ortom described the action as unacceptable, breach of protocol and politics taken too far. “It is unfortunate that an ugly incident occurred today, which is a breach of protocol and I feel so sad for our country Nigeria, where everything has been reduced to politics. There are certain things you don’t politicise.
“I was to attend the burial ceremony of one of our elders and leader, Prof Ignitius Ayua; I’d made all arrangements to travel to Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA), then this letter was brought to me, that the Vice-President is going to be in transit, through Makurdi to Wukari
“I decided to mandate the Deputy Governor to represent me at the burial of Prof. Ayua. So, this morning, I got prepared and went to the Airforce base, where the Vice President is supposed to land, enroute Wukari and unfortunately, I was bounced at the gate; in my own state.
“It doesn’t happen. This is a breach of protocol and this is not accepted. This is politics taken too far. This is not correct and somebody must account for this
