Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said that he has no personal grudges against President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Ortom has been very vocal about the president’s lacklustre handling of the farmers-herdsmen crisis in the state.
The governor told newsmen on Wednesday at the Nigerian Air Force base, Makurdi, as he was about to receive Mr Buhari, that he was only doing his job (of receiving the president) as governor.
“Mr President is beyond party, he is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and whatever he is doing, it is our responsibility to give him adequate protocol.
“He is our President, and he is beyond party and so I am doing all the needful.
“There is no special thing in what I am doing, it is what I am supposed to do as governor of Benue State irrespective of party because he remains my President and I respect him.
“I have no personal issues with him; we talk about policies and issues, there is no personal grudge.
“So, I am here to receive him, and I have made adequate arrangement. This State belongs to Mr President. So he has access. He can be here and do whatever he wants,” he said.
Ortom announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July 2018 to join the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Buhari’s airplane touched down in Benue at 10.37 am. He is in the state for his presidential rally.
