By Matthew Ajai-Kume
Former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has apologised to Governor Samuel Ortom over scathing comments made on his person in 2018.
In a retraction published in national dailies on Thursday and signed by Comrade Oshiomhole, he said, on 27 July, 2018 at the national headquarters of APC and in his capacity as chairman of the party, he addressed different national issues as well as some events which occurred in Benue State, including the movement earlier that day of his Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom (Executive Governor of Benue State) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The retraction read in part: “In the course of the press conference, I made certain comments about Dr Ortom on the basis of information I have since found to be false and baseless.
“His Excellency Dr Samuel Ortom felt embarrassed, defamed and deeply aggrieved by the comments I made at the said press conference, culminating in litigation.
“That politics aside, Governor Samuel Ortom is a dear friend and brother with whom I have shared so much in common, including mutual respect.
“That as former colleagues and one time members of the Nigerian Governors’ forum and most importantly as someone whom I am just a phone call away from, any ridicule, embarrassment, spite and insult caused Dr Samuel Ortom is regretted.
“Owing to the relationship we share and in the larger interest of peace, harmony and brotherliness, I believe a complete retraction of my comments made on 27th July, 2018, and which Dr Samuel Ortom found offensive is proper and necessary.
“In view of all the above, I hereby retract the comments made during the press conference on 27th July, 2018, as it relates to Dr Samuel Ortom.”
It could be recalled that, in that press conference, Adams Oshiomole falsely accused Governor Samuel Ortom of masterminding the murder of two Catholic priests at a church in Ayar, Mbalom in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue state and several other falsehood on the person and office of the governor.
