Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Wednesday appealed to residents of Makurdi metropolis to remain calm despite provocation by some alleged hoodlums who went on rampage destroying billboards and posters belonging to PDP within the state capital.
Ortom also urged supporters of PDP to shun any act of violence over the development in order for peace to prevail.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, alleged that the hoodlums were members of the opposition party.
The statement alleged, “Senator George Akume who propelled the youths to embark on the destruction of PDP campaign materials is only lamenting his defeat at last Saturday’s election by inciting youths to cause mayhem in Makurdi and other towns in the state.
“Governor Ortom states that since 1999, Dr George Akume has been winning elections but those he defeated never went on rampage to incite youths against him. They accepted defeat in good faith and those who were aggrieved took their cases to the election tribunal to seek redress.”
Ortom therefore advised Akume and anyone else who wants to destabilise Benue state to respect the rule of law and approach the courts if they feel aggrieved over results of the elections as he commended the people for restraining themselves from retaliating.
