If we don’t secure the country, there is no way we can talk about 2023 – Gov Ortom.

The Executive Governor of  Benue, Samuel Ortom, has stated that the 2023 election might not hold if the current administration does not address the issue of insecurity bewildering the country.

The Governor stated this when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Briefing the press after meeting with the President, Governor Ortom thanked the President for condemning the attack on his farm but noted that: “that there will be no 2023 elections in Nigeria if insecurity persists.”

He said: “It’s not just enough to say that one criticizes the policies of the President, but when he does a good thing, it is our responsibility to team up with him to ensure that it’s done because it is when we are peaceful when we have security that we can talk about tomorrow.

“I want to also appeal to Nigerians, 2023, yes to a politician is not far, but it’s still a long way. If we secure our country and everything is working fine, then we can talk about 2023, but with the way things are going, if we don’t secure the country, there is no way we can talk about 2023, that is why I always dismiss people who come to me to say we will contest this, we will contest that.

“For me, I want us, as leaders of this country, who have taken an oath of office, let us abide by those things we have said, work together as a team, leave politics aside, leave ethnicity aside, then secure the country, Nigeria. We have no other country than Nigeria.

“Today, we cannot go to Cameroon or Senegal or any other country and claim responsibility, so my appeal to everyone is to ensure that we work together. Security matters are not just for the security agencies alone. We as people who are being led have a responsibility, we who are leaders, have a responsibility.

“It is only when we team up that we’ll be able to surmount this challenge. But I think there shouldn’t be room for people who are creating problems for us. We have a constitution, we have laws of the land. If people are found wanting, they should be cautioned, they should be arrested, prosecuted, and let the right thing be done.”