Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has hit out at his Plateau State counterpart, Governor Simon Lalong… “My deputy told me that he had a discussion with Lalong recently at a function, where he (Lalong) said that he had to apologise to me over his statement because of pressure on him, saying, he stands by his earlier statement.”

Governors Samuel Ortom and Simon Lalong

“He also told the people that he introduced this woman (pointing at the woman on the high table) in this committee to me, whereas, this woman was introduced to me by Nasir el-Rufai, not him.”

“Thank God he has a representative here; please tell him to stop interfering with the affairs of my state; let him mind his business in Plateau and I will mind my own business here. I am the governor here (Benue); how can he say that he warned me? Who is he to warn me? He can only advise me.”

It would be recalled that Gov. Simon Lalong had at the peak of the herdsmen’s attacks on Benue State told journalists in Abuja that he warned Ortom against the Benue State anti-open grazing law.