VP Osinbajo: Air Force ‘apologise to Ortom’ after he was barred from welcoming the vice president

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has reportedly tendered an apology to the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom over the conduct of security personnel attached to the gate of the Air Force Base in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

The security personnel attached to the tactical air command at the main entrance of the Air Force Base (NAF) had barred Governor Ortom from receiving the Vice-President into his state on Saturday, February 12.

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

Addressing journalists at the Government House in Makurdi earlier today, Ortorm registered his displeasure after he was denied entrance at the gate of the Air Force, while on his way to receive the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He said organs of government should avoid conflating official duties with politics. According to Governor Ortom, he had been formally invited to welcome the Vice-President to the state but was surprised when a Nigerian Air Force officer did that in his place.

The Governor who has been very critical of the Buhari administration called for disciplinary actions against the air force personnel in what he described as an embarrassment to his office.

While holding a letter from the State House formally requesting him to receive the Vice President, Governor Ortom said;

“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.”

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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.