I may become freelance journalist after 29 May — Ortom

The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said he may become a freelance journalist after leaving office.

Mr Ortom, who will be rounding up his second tenure on May 29, stated this when he appeared on Arise Television Morning Show on Wednesday.

The governor, who lost his senatorial bid for the Benue North-West Senatorial seat to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Titus Zam, said there are a number of things he could embark on post May 29.

Mr Ortom said that even though he knew money was given to the people of the state to ensure he lost the election, he had accepted it as the will of God and moved on.

He said, “I know how much given to Benue State from the Villa to ensure I lost the election. And I’ve accepted it.

“And I’ve accepted that if another person comes, I should support that person if they need my support. And if they don’t need my support, I will go back to my farm. I will go back to my business, and I can even be a freelance journalist.”

Mr Ortom said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has taken Nigeria from the top to the bottom, but he had forgiven the President.

While making a reference to the Holy Bible, he said, “When you don’t forgive, it means God too will not forgive you. As a student of the Bible and as a born-again Christian, I have forgiven President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Mr Ortom also expressed optimism for better performance from the administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

“We hope that the incoming administration will provide support, help, security, economic development, and peace for our people,” he added.

He, however, advised Mr Buhari not to exit Nigeria but stay back to work with the administration of Tinubu to elevate the state and nation from “bottom to top”.

“He doesn’t need to go to the Niger Republic. He should stay here (in Nigeria) with us. All of us should work with the incoming administration and by the grace of God, we shall go from bottom to top,” the governor said.