Osinbajo, Air Force Apologise To Ortom After He Was Barred From Welcoming The VP

According to reports, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has apologized to the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, for the conduct of security personnel stationed at the gate of the Air Force Base in Makurdi, the capital of the state.

Governor Ortom was prevented from receiving the Vice President into his state on Saturday, February 12, by security personnel assigned to the tactical air command at the main entrance of the National Air Force Base (NAF).

Osinbajo was travelling to Wukari, Taraba State en route to the Makurdi military airport in Benue to attend the convocation of the Federal University, Wukari.

Speaking to journalists at the Government House in Makurdi earlier today, Ortorm expressed his displeasure with the Nigerian Air Force after he was denied entry at the gate of the Air Force while on his way to receive the Vice-President.

He advised government organs to avoid conflating their official responsibilities with political activities.

According to Governor Ortom, he had been formally invited to receive the Vice President upon his arrival in the state, but was taken aback when a Nigerian Air Force officer performed the task in his place.

The Governor who has been vocal in his criticism of the Buhari administration demanded that disciplinary action be taken against the air force personnel for what he described as an embarrassment to his office.

Governor Ortom made the following statement while holding a letter from the State House formally requesting that he receive the Vice President;

“I don’t want to be someone who is a busybody. I have too many things to do. As I talk to you, the entire Gwer-West is under siege. The Fulani have come and are burning down houses. I was supposed to go there but I had to shift everything to receive the Vice President. I feel so pained that politics has been taken beyond what it is supposed to be.

There is no permanent enemy in politics, no permanent friend. Tomorrow I can be the best friend of Mr President if they choose to do the right thing. I don’t have any problems with the President and Vice President, and all the things that I say, they are meant to add value to development and get things right. I have never insulted the President or the Vice President or the Federal Government. But there are certain things they are doing which are wrong.”

However, Osinbajo and the authorities of the Nigerian Air force have since apologised to Governor Ortom who eventually received the Vice President at the Air Force Base, according to Daily Trust.

A picture of the governor welcoming Osinbajo was later released by the official photographer to the vice president later in the day.