Former National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) North Central zone, Hon. Joseph Tondo has said his party will lend helping hand to Governor Samuel Ortom in his effort to tackle security challenges in Benue.
Tondo, who made this known in an interview with Blueprint yesterday in Makurdi, said issues affecting the state in the area of security were beyond party lines, hence the resolve of his party to lend her support in order to enable the state government overcome the challenge.
The APGA chairman in the state, expressed dismay at what he termed “lukewarm attitude on the part of the federal government towards tackling the issues of herdsmen attacks on Benue communities,” emphasising that the Buhari-lead government was indifferent to the plight of the people of the state.
He hailed Ortom’s stand on the establishment of ranching by cattle owners, saying it was the most popular decision by his government in the area of security.
He stated that the issues of herdsmen crisis were fast consuming the entire country, adding that the governor was indeed a hero as an elected leader who has demonstrated the political will and courage amid very stiff opposition, to find a workable solution to the herdsmen issue.
According to him, though Ortom is doing well in the state, the platform upon which he got elected has lost popularity among the Benue people.
He said it was his candid advice that the governor should seek for another platform to contest the forthcoming elections.
Tondo added that his party was ready to accommodate governor Ortom and all those willing to come into its fold.
On the chances of APGA in the general elections billed for next year, the party chieftain said it was bright.
He informed that, already, over four prominent politicians in the state had approached the party with the view to flying its flag at various levels in the 2019 general elections, adding that the party was harvesting members on a daily basis.
“APGA like you know is synonymous with success. You see what we have
been able to do in Anambra state where we have been in charge for about 12 years now.
“Our success lies in the fact that we follow our constitution to the later and that is why you see every person elected on our platform working and I bet to tell you that we are poised towards replicating same here if given the opportunity,’’ he noted.
