Benue cabinet ready in three weeks, says Ortom

The Governor of Benue, State Samuel Ortom, has said that his cabinet will be ready in the next three weeks.

He told journalists at Ikwe Wildlife Resort in Igbor, Gwer Local Government Area of the state that the process for the constitution of members of his cabinet was on course.

The governor has so far appointed the Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service and his Chief of Staff.

The governor had also appointed the Special Adviser on Media and ICT and Special Adviser on Security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying, “The process for the constitution of my cabinet is on course. Do not forget that this is democracy and I am not a sole administrator. I am still making consultations with my people so as to carry everybody along.”

He added that “I have the best assembly in the country and they are ready to work with the executive for the progress of the state.’’

Ortom promised to eliminate small arms, thuggery and insecurity and warned those in possession of arms illegally to either submit them or face the law in the next three months.

He expressed regrets that those in possession of such arms were using them to commit all kinds of crimes in the state.

“We have given those with arms three months to turn them in or face the law. We have also adopted measures to rehabilitate them back into the society.

“But if they failed to do so within this period, we will look for them anywhere they are and get them arrested. They must face the law for all their actions after the expiration of the three months grace.’’

Ortom said that his administration would not hesitate to correct any wrong policies of the previous government, especially those that had negative financial implications on the state.

“I warned the former governor over his last minute decisions. He was unable to pay workers for months while in office, yet he went ahead to recruit thousands of workers during his last weeks in office.”