…10 political parties to participate in Benue council polls
From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
A National coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo has advised Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to leave Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State alone and stop making uncomplimentary statements against him.
Last week, in his comments on the rising spate of killings in Benue, Wike said there was need for an emergency rule in the state based on what he described as “Ortom’s ineptitude and lack of capacity to handle situations in Benue.
“You can’t have a governor watching helplessly as his people are being killed. What kind of governor is that? He has displayed sheer laziness and incapacity in the whole issue, and this is quite unfortunate.”
But, in his reaction, Gololo, a senior special assistant to Ortom on Fulani Matters, warned Wike to desist from making unkind remarks about his Benue counterpart as well desist from calling for a state of emergency in the state.
Gololo told Daily Sun, in Makurdi, that the Rivers governor should first take charge of his state and answer the array of alleged election frauds levelled against him before talking ill of another prison.
“Ortom is fully in control of Benue. Wike should leave Ortom to do the good job that he has been doing in Benue State. How can somebody whose election is riddled with fraud be talking ill of another person? Gololo asked rhetorically.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. John Tsuwa has disclosed that 10 political parties have so far indicated interest to partake in the local government election slated to hold on June 3, this year.
Tsuwa disclosed this at the weekend and explained that the 10 political parties have already collected forms and have promised to cooperate with the commission to ensure a peaceful and credible local council polls.
Asked if Card Readers would be used during the election, the BSIEC boss said the commission was still in talks with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and hopes to use the card readers if the terms are friendly.
“Using the card reader entails additional manpower, more funds and time. We are in discussion with INEC and if the terms are friendly, we will use the card reader but if it becomes very difficult, we will still explain to Benue people.
“I know we are in a new era and the people are learned enough to adhere to lay down procedures for a credible election not necessarily the card reader.”
Tsuwa also revealed that over 12,000 ad-hoc staff would be engaged in the elections and appealed to the Benue public to cooperate with the commission for a successful local government election.
“Let me also use this medium to appeal to Benue people not to sit and wait for me to fail; it is not my election. It is the future of everyone of us…”