Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Sunday, said that he was being persecuted by the Federal Government and his former political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), because he refused to surrender Benue lands to Fulani herdsmen.

Today Newspaper also reported that governor Ortom said that his defection from the ruling APC was in rejection of a political party which treats the killing of his people with kid gloves, saying he could not remain in a party encouraging the killing of his people.

Governor Ortom stated this at St. Michael’s Catholic Rectory Ameladu during a thanksgiving service in his honour.

He insisted that the agenda of the invaders was not for grazing but to take over the land from the real owners.

Governor Ortom, while stressing that he would never be party to such evil agenda, however, reassured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to protecting their interests no matter the level of intimidation and threats according to Today’s Newspaper.

Ortom acknowledged the spiritual and humanitarian works of the priest in charge of the Rectory, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asue, noting that the clergy man’s interventions in health, education and empowerment had greatly complemented the efforts of government.

In a sermon, Rev. Fr. Asue, charged Christians not to allow material things to hinder them from inheriting the kingdom of God, adding that they should rather use their material possessions as a stepping stone to make Heaven.