The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benue state

  • Late arrival of sensitive materials may delay voting in Benue

    There is likelihood of delay of tomorrow’s presidential polls in several local government areas of Benue state, indications emerged on Friday.

    Although security and other logistics arrangements by INEC, security agencies and both federal and state governments appeared to have run smoothly, sensitive materials arrived from Abuja to Makurdi late on Friday afternoon.

    INEC spokesman, Mr. Andya Terkaa, told our correspondent the delayed arrival was bound to affect things on Saturday, especially as security considerations makes night travel to distant local government areas impractical.

    Speaking with The Nation at his office shortly before 5pm on Friday, he emphasized that while INEC is doing its best, few minor factors may hinder aspects of well laid out plans.

    Read Also: APC on rescue mission in Benue

    “They are sorting out sensitive materials at the Central Bank now.

    “Because sensitive materials arrived Benue very late today, there is likelihood that elections may start late in some distant areas like Vandeikya on Saturday,” he said.

     

  • Ekiti residents protest killing of farmer by suspected herdsman

    The Residents of Ayegbaju Ekiti, Oye local government area of Ekiti State, on Thursday evening staged a protest to vent anger over the alleged killing of a farmer by suspected herdsman.

    Elijah Ogor, 30, who hailed from Benue State, was killed on his farmland situated between Ayegbaju and Ido Ekiti on Wednesday after his farm was allegedly invaded and destroyed by the herdsman with cattle.

    The protesters barricaded Ifaki-Ayegbaju and Ayegbaju-Oye road with vehicular movements restricted for over an hour.

    According to one of the protesters, Adeleye who spoke with The Nation, said the victim was shot dead by suspected herder at the back and soaked in blood.

    “All we want is justice. How could any cattle rearer go to someone’s farm to destroy it and still went ahead to kill him? This is unjust and callous.

    “This issue must be investigated thoroughly and whoever was involved should be prosecuted accordingly”, he said.

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    Immediately the death was reported through the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu, the task force of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Ekiti chapter , swung into action.

    The task force searched thoroughly the expansive Ayegbaju-Ido-Iludun farmland and apprehended one Umar Abubakar Sanda, in connection with the death.

    While speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sanda’s arrest, GAFDAN’S Secretary in Ekiti, Hon. Toyin Ibrahim, said: “We got the information from Seriki Fulani that a farmer was killed in Ayegbaju . Our task force , comprising virtually all the ethnic groups in Nigeria moved into that bush and arrested Umar Sanda.

    “At the point, we saw him, he was holding a rifle and with live cartridge inside. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.

    “The reason why we suspected him was that, two other people were with the deceased when he was shot, they escaped from the scene and the description they gave showed that the suspect was involved.

    “As law-abiding group, we immediately took Sanda to the police station at Ido Ekiti where he was detained. Part of our mandate in GAFDAN is to arrest cattle rustlers and errant herdsmen, who destroyed farmlands or commit other offences”.

    When called for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command. DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said a suspect has been arrested in connection with the crime.

    “We learnt a farmer was killed inside the farm and he had been apprehended and brought to the police. He is presently being detained in our custody and once we conclude investigation, we shall charge him to court”, he added.

    The GAFDAN Boss appealed to the government to empower the group to be able to carry out the mandate of ensuring peaceful coexistence between farmers and Fulani herders.

    He said the group would also support the security agencies in all forms to decimate indiscriminate killings by knight-errant Fulani herdsmen.

  • Jime: The right man for  Benue Government house

    The Gubernatorial elections are around the corner, and as usual, there is a beehive of activities from the various political actors. This is an era of promises upon promises. Some even go as far as promising what they know in their hearts they cannot deliver. But as they say, all politics is local, and one of the ways to localize it is to tell the people what they want to hear to get their votes. The case of Benue State presents us with such instances of empty promises especially from a government that has from all indications failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
    I am always troubled writing about the state of affairs in Benue state in the past three years. It can be stated that the state went on overdrive from bad to worse under the current leadership of Samuel Ortom, a governor that has continued to play to the gallery at the expense of quality leadership.
    I took out time to study the array of candidates vying for the governorship of Benue state, and the name Emmanuel Jime struck me. It hit me not because I haven’t heard the name before, but I was struck by his blueprint for the development of Benue State if given the mandate to pilot the affairs of the state.
    And of course, Emmanuel Jime is not a new face to politics and governance. He was Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and also a former member of the House of Representatives between 2007 to 2015. He is also a grassroots person who understands the challenges faced by the ordinary man and woman on the streets of Benue state. This much has been said about him in numerous fora . And this much he has also demonstrated all the while he straddled the political space in Benue state.
    And when he offered himself for service to the people of Benue state, I was more than happy because his candidature has once again reinforced the fact that it is time to take Benue state to the next level of growth and prosperity.
    In my opinion, Emmanuel Jime represents all that is needed in Benue state at this critical point of our existence. In terms of experience, exposure and qualifications, I do not see any other candidate competing with him. Make no mistakes; he is a man that has imputed his name in the sands of time in politics both at the state and national level. When he was a member of the House of Representatives, his contributions on the floor were always laced with intellectual deftness and political correctness.
    It is also on record that throughout his stint in the House of Representatives, there was never a time he was associated with any scandal. That is the quintessential Emmanuel Jime, one that places a strong value on the sincerity of heart and purpose in all that he does. Tell me, is this not what the people of Benue state deserve at this point of our existence?
    Your guess is as good as mine.  In my opinion, the choice of Emmanuel Jime as governor of Benue state is a non-negotiable one due to the level of poverty and suffering in the state. The worrisome aspect of the Benue debacle is the way and manner the leadership of the state deceives the people all in the name of playing politics.

    Read Also:Guber poll: EFCC warns against vote buying

    Every true son or daughter of Benue knows that we cannot afford this golden opportunity to make Benue work again with Emmanuel Jime at the helms of affairs pass us by. The time to liberate Benue state from the hands of the locust has been presented before us with the candidature of Emmanuel Jime, a man that has broad appeal across the senatorial districts in the state, and also a man who has an aura that exudes unity. If you would agree with me, Benue state needs such a unifying personality to make substantial gains in our march towards greatness.
    And that is what Emmanuel Jime is offering Benue people. I cannot disagree less or doubt his sincerity of heart and purpose. He is someone I had taken the time to scrutinize his antecedents including when he was elected Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly at the youthful age of 30.
    I also took out time to study his blueprint for the development of Benue state, and I must confess that here is a man that has prepared himself for governance and if given the mandate, he would hit the ground running. Unlike others, there is no rhetoric in his blueprint for developing the state. What you have in the blueprint are tangibles with a clear roadmap on deliverables. This is quite commendable, and an indication of what to expect should the people of Benue give him their mandate.
    It is, therefore, my considered opinion that Emmanuel Jime is aptly the right man for Benue Government House and I trust the civil servants that have been denied their wages for months would agree with me. I am also sure those that have lost their loved ones due to the recklessness of the present administration would also agree with me.
    For the people of Benue state, I would say the coming of Emmanuel Jime into the fray is an indication that God has indeed heard the cries of the people who have been abused, humiliated and denied the dividends of democracy by the present administration. And as the famous saying goes, for sorrow may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. And with Emanuel Jime as governor of Benue State, there shall be joy in the morning.
    I charge the people of Benue state to do the needful by voting for unity and progress. I am also encouraging the good people of Benue to ensure that come March 9th, 2019, they should choose light over darkness. Benue shall be great again.
    Agbese is a public affairs commentator and contributed this piece from Apa- Agila.

  • Breaking: I won’t change if reelected, Buhari assures

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured Nigerians that he will not change his style when given a second term in office.

    There have been insinuations the President will change and stop working for the masses if reelected.

    But Buhari gave his assurance not to change during the Presidential campaign at the Aper Aku stadium in Makurdi, Benue State

    Read Also: Buhari arrives Makurdi for campaign rally

    The President promised that he would continue to remain steadfast and focused.

    He also listed his administration’s achievements in the past three and half years.

    Details Later…

  • Buhari mourns Senator Waku

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the passing of former Senator Joseph Kennedy Waku.

    Commiserating with the family of the senator, who represented Benue North-West (1999-2003) and the government and people of Benue State, the President recalled Waku’s contributions to the growth of education when he served as Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

    He urged the children, friends and political associates of the late elder statesman to keep alive his commitment to the unity, peace and stability of not only Benue State, but also the entire country.

    The President prayed Almighty God to comfort the family and all those who mourn the septuagenarian and grant his soul eternal rest.

  • FG rehabilitates 250km of Calabar-Ogoja highway

    Rehabilitation works are ongoing on the 250km of the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja Highway, the Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Cross River State Bassey Nsetip has stated.

    The road, which is the nerve of the state, runs 330km from Calabar in the southern part of the state up to Ogoja local government area in the northern part terminating at Gakem at the Benue State border.

    The road connects connecting almost the entire 18 local government areas of the state.

    The road, which has been in a state of disrepair for decades, had been a source of agony for road users who often spent about 10 hours or more on the road travelling from Calabar to Ogoja local government area due to its poor state.

    Nsetip said three different contractors are handling the rehabilitation of the road and the quality of the job was good. According to him areas rehabilitated would not last less than 20 years.

    The Controller, who led an inspection to check parts of the road already completed and those still ongoing said this particular road was vital to the life of the state.

    He said by the time they are done, commuters would have a smooth ride all the way from Calabar to Ogoja reducing travel time to just about four hours.

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    “It is a very important road in the state. In fact it is the main arterial Federal Road we have in the state. It connects all the local governments to the state from the south up to the north.

    “It is a very important road and the Federal Government has been maintaining the road to ensure that business does not collapse here.

    “You know the road is the life wire of the economy and if you want to shut down Cross River State, you shut down this road.

    “From Calabar to Ugep that used to be three hours, is now one and a half hour from Calabar.

    “If ask the people, they are very happy. We have 250km we are working on right now. Areas we are not working on are areas that are still okay,” he said.

  • Alleged rights abuse: Presidential panel insists on Moro’s appearance

    The Presidential Investigation Panel on alleged human rights violations against SARS has insisted former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro must appear before it on January 25 this year.

    The panel, headed by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), had last week summoned Moro in relation to his alleged complicity in the purported unlawful arrest, detention and extortion of members of Iwewe Community in Benue State SARS’ operatives.

    Moro was expected to appear before the panel on January 21 when it scheduled further hearing in a petition by the Iwewe Community, in which they among others alleged that SARS’ operatives invaded their community and subjected men and women to unlawful arrest, detention and extortion.

    On Monday, Moro failed to turn up but instead, sent a lawyer, Paul Samuel Ikpe, who told the panel that his client was absent because of the burial ceremony of the leader of his political party, slated on January 24 this year.

    Ikpe said the burial date coincides with the date the panel requested his client to attend its sitting.  He added that his client was interested in appearing before the panel.

    He requested the panel to do away with his client’s personal appearance but instead, allow him to respond to panel’s questions in writing, a request the panel rejected.

    The panel said such a procedure contravenes the essence of its sitting, which is intended as a public enquiry.

    Ojukwu said: “The panel would need to conduct some follow up questions that may arise from his testimonies; he needs to be here physically to testify publicly.”

    Monday was the second time Moro was failing to attend the panel’s sitting.

    On January 15 this year, his lawyer blamed his absence on some political engagements.

    Moro was accused of authorizing a petition upon which SARS invaded Iwewe Community in Benue State and allegedly subjected them to unlawful arrest, detention and extortion.

  • Buhari condemns Tiv, Jukun clash

    President Muhammadu Buhari has strongly condemned the inter-communal violence between Tiv and Jukun communities in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

    The clash has left dozens injured and several houses destroyed.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, expressed deepest sympathies and condolences to the people and the government of Benue State over the losses recorded.

    He wished the injured speedy recovery.

    The President reaffirmed that his government will not allow any group to incite hatred and violence against others, even as he commended the army, police and other security agencies for promptly bringing the violence to a quick end.

    President Buhari charged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of violence and charge them to court without delay.

  • Rigging will not be allowed in Benue – Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has assured residents of the state that there would be no room for rigging and manipulation of votes in the forthcoming elections.

    Ortom gave the assurance on Saturday in Vandeikya Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    He dispelled fears that the election would be rigged, noting that the people would guard their votes jealously to forestall rigging.

    “We are not going to allow that to happen in Benue. We will certainly leave nothing to chance.

    He promised not to disappoint the people if voted back to office, stressing that he would deliver on his mandates.

    “I want to implore you to vote en masse for all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Do not select any of them to vote for no matter the circumstances,” he said.

    Read Also: Why I defected to PDP – Ortom

    Also, former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, alleged neglect of the Tiv people whom he described as the fourth largest tribe in the country, in political appointments.

    The State Chairman of the party, Mr John Ngbede, also solicited votes for candidates of the PDP in the elections and urged them to guard their votes to avoid rigging.

    A political chieftain in Benue North East, Mr Demenongo Unom, urged the people to vote for Ortom as a reward for defending the Benue people.

    NAN

  • Suspected herdsmen kill farmer in Benue community

    Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed a farmer, Iornongu Mwuaga, at Tombo Ward of Tse-Orbaki village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

    Three other persons were declared missing.

    The chairman of the local government, Richard Nyajo, accused herdsmen of launching the attack.

    He said the herdsmen were freely grazing on farmlands and destroying crops.

    A brother to the deceased, Mr Terkula Mbanyi, who is also a former deputy chairman of the local government, told reporters that herdsmen with rifles and cattle surrounded their farmlands while they were working.

    Mbanyi, a worker at Benue State Scholarship Board in Makurdi, said: “The armed herdsmen shot at those working on the farm. In the ensuing melee, one person was killed and two others got missing.”

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    The traditional ruler of Tombo Ward, Chief Enoch Ikyumen, told The Nation on phone that the body of farmer had been deposited at Ayilamo town hospital and the matter reported to the local government chairman.

    There has been an increase in herdsmen attacks on farmers in Tse-Dzungwe, Anawah and Tse Ibor villages, following the return of armed herders with cattle.

    The herdsmen were said to have grazed on unharvested farmlands and destroyed crops unchallenged.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said he had not received the report last night.

    Governor Samuel Ortom kick-started his re-election campaign in Logo local Government area on the day herdsmen launched attacks on the community’s residents.