Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor of Benue State, has accused his opponents of deliberately spreading false information during the build-up to the 2023 general elections in order to ensure his defeat. Ortom specifically mentioned that his opponents falsely claimed that he owns the Ethanol Company, Pure Bio Tech, located along Gboko-Makurdi Road.
In a statement released by his media aide, Terver Akase, in the state capital, Ortom emphasized that he has no ownership or affiliation with the company. The statement also acknowledged that despite the lack of evidence to support the allegations, many individuals believed the campaign of lies and hate against him.
Ortom further revealed that Stephen Numbeve, who serves as the State Project Coordinator for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, was the Resource Manager of Pure Bio Tech from its inception until his appointment in the government. He expressed disappointment that Numbeve remained silent about the false accusations during the election, but later disclosed the real owner of the company through social media posts.
The former governor highlighted two instances where Numbeve had apologized to him, emphasizing that Ortom’s administration had ordered an urgent investigation into the company’s activities after discovering that its sewage disposal system was contaminating River Benue, thereby endangering aquatic life.
In response, Ortom challenged those spreading the false claim about his ownership of Pure Bio Tech to provide evidence or issue public apologies. He also called for transparency and accountability in political campaigns.
It is worth noting that Samuel Ortom not only lost his senatorial ambition but also his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the 2023 governorship election in Benue State.
