The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has debunked claims that he is hiring thugs ahead of the 2019 general election in the state.
Ortom made this known in a Monday statement through his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua.
The governor’s aide asserted that Ortom neither possesses nor patronises thugs, and described claims to the contrary as “laughable”.
“There is the need to reiterate what has been stated several times that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, neither possesses nor patronises thugs,” the statement read in part.
Agerzua said that Ortom never used thugs to win the 2015 governorship election in the state and would not start now.
He added that the present administration has also succeeded in bringing thuggery to the barest minimum in the state.
The statement further read, “Since assumption of office he has never ever resorted to the use of thugs to accomplish any task for him. He does not need them.
“Indeed, by his disposition and aversion to the patronage of thugs, thuggery is no longer attractive in the state and has been reduced to the very minimum.
“Governor Ortom is a firm believer in the rule of law and due process. When he feels that his rights have been infringed upon or that falsehood has been published against him he takes the opportunity of the right of reply or seeks redress in the courts of law.
“The claim by one gentleman that the Governor sent thugs to attack him on Sunday because he belongs to another party is uncharitable and untenable, to say the least.
“The gentleman in question who has been shopping for who to blame for his attack, if indeed it happened, first mentioned another person on Facebook before he changed his narrative for partisan and other purposes.
“For young people like him, what Governor Ortom does is to support them to stand on their feet.
“He also encourages them to marry and settle down by sponsoring their marriages and many times personally attends their weddings. Governor Ortom has nothing whatsoever to gain from any attack on anyone.”