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Tag: Ortom

  • Al-Makura to Ortom: killer herdsmen not in Nasarawa

    Al-Makura to Ortom: killer herdsmen not in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura yesterday denied that killer-herdsmen causing havoc in Benue State are in the state.

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, whose state has lost 71 persons to the rampaging gunmen said they were residing in Nasarawa State.

    After meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Ortom spoke about the anti-open grazing law, saying it had brought peace, until the herdsmen attacks.

    “And since we started the implementation, there has been relative peace among farmers and herdsmen; they were doing well until this militia coming from this Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, came and attacked us. And they are known, we know where they are. As I talk to you they are in Tongua in Awe local government that is where these people are camped and coming to attack people.” he added

    But Al-Makura swiftly denied the allegation, saying his state was not harbouring the killer-herdsmen.

    He said: “I’m really taken aback; this statement is most unfortunate. I will like to use this opportunity to say that there is nothing like that whatsoever. If anything, the Tonga that the governor is talking about in Awe Local Government  is now the safe haven for displaced persons.

    “As I speak with you today, there are more than three IDP camps in Awe local government that quarters and caters for the number of people that have migrated from Benue to Nasarawa.

    “To be specific, they are more than 7,000 people that are camped in Tonga. So it’s very ironical that a place that is supposed to be an area that has become a safe haven for IDPs can now be called where militias are camped.

    “In that case, the militia don’t need to go as far as Benue. They have the prey within the vicinity of Tonga to attack. I think this is most unfortunate.” he said

    He added: “Yesterday, we held over seven hours of rigorous interfacing with seven governors, service chiefs and some ministers and all our security operatives within the states and around Benue, and my colleague could not tell me this, he could not approach me and give me an idea if there is anything that he saw or is worried about.

    “Besides, from all the discussions we had yesterday, there was no concrete security report stigmatising any part of Nasarawa State as habouring people that are coming to attack Benue.

    “I feel what should be of concern to us as leaders is the plight of the people and any of such statement that is inflammatory is likely going to cause more confusion to what is already there.

    “As it is, it is the implementation of the anti-grazing law in Benue that has caused the problem and now Nasarawa State is being infected by the problem notwithstanding that we are being our brothers’ keepers and good neigbhours.

    “I had to cut short my leave and come to find ways of helping my colleague. We have called all our security to meet to find ways and means of helping Benue and if all efforts we have done and with all the relief materials we have given and the protection to the IDPs that were created, that certain parts of Nasarawa State can now be stigmatised with this allegations is to say the least  most unfortunate.”

    Al-Makura added: “We will still continue to render whatever assistance that we can give to the IDPs from Benue because we have some Tiv people that live in Nasarawa in virtually all the three or four local governments that share boundary with Benue State, we are duty bound as a responsible administration to cater for all.

    “And the Tonga he is talking about is a town within three states, that is Goa in Benue, Shanda, Ibi and there is River Benue besides them. So, anybody can fly through the River to go and attack in Benue. And don’t forget the obscurity of the wilderness and is very porous and anybody can move from any part to any place to attack any place.

    “So, as far as I am concerned, it is unfortunate there is nobody keeping anybody anywhere in Nasarawa State.”

  • Governor Ortom alleges threat to his life

    Governor Ortom alleges threat to his life

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday alleged threats to his life by those opposed to the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state.

    But he declared that he was unperturbed by such threats.

    Governor Ortom told a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi branch at Government House that the law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation would stop the implementation of the policy.

    He asked the people of the state to remain steadfast until impunity is defeated in Nigeria.

    He also stressed that no sacrifice is too big in the struggle to end the reign of terror by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Benue.

    Governor Ortom pleaded with all Benue sons and daughters to forget their political differences and unite to speak with one voice against invasion and occupation of their land which has left many people dead and property worth billions destroyed.

    The Governor expressed the hope that President Buhari would take further steps to stop the killing of innocent people and arrest those behind the genocide, especially leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore who had threatened to resist the law.

    Governor Ortom, while appreciating the NBA for the consolatory visit, said he was happy that he had not done the wrong thing by enacting a law that seeks to protect his people, stressing that it was a global best practice and that he and President Muhammadu Buhari also practise ranching.

    Earlier, Chairman NBA Makurdi branch, Mr. Emmanuel Agbakor, said the gruesome killings violate the right to life of Benue citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

  • I bear no grudges against Catholic Church – Ortom

    I bear no grudges against Catholic Church – Ortom

    There was uproar in Wanunue, the country home of Senator George Akume as a Catholic priest stopped Governor Samuel Ortom from addressing the congregation.

    The incident take place at St Christopher Catholic Church Wanune, during the Thanksgiving service to mark the 64th birthday of Senator Akume.

    But in a swift reaction Governor Samuel Ortom through his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase said there was no cause for alarm as there was no rift between him and the Gboko Catholic Diocese, where the incident took place.

    Shorty after the homily, when the priest advised Senator Akume in his sermon, as the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that the governor pay workers’ salaries.

    After the sermon, Akume, at whose instance the mass was celebrated was allowed to speak, and he in turn invited the governor to react to the issue of non- payment of salaries which the priest raised in his sermon.

    Shortly after the Senator handed over the microphone to Governor Ortom, the priest in charge of church Fr. Ashwe informed the governor point blank that the doctrine of the Gboko Diocese of the Catholic Church does not allow politicians to speak in church after service except at reception venues.

    The governor simply complied even though there was uproar as worshippers who were mostly politicians hurriedly abandoned the service.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor later issued a statement to douse the tension between the Gboko Diocese and the governor among his supporters.

    The statement reads in part: “We have read various statements arising from the thanksgiving mass yesterday in honour of Senator George Akume at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area.

    “We wish to state that Governor Samuel Ortom understands and respects the decision of Gboko Catholic Diocese not to allow politicians to speak during masses and therefore would not have felt slighted when the Priest in Charge of the Wannune Parish did not permit him to speak during the mass in accordance with the decision of the Diocese.

    “We urge those amplifying the incident and making inflammatory statements for political reasons to sheathe their swords.”

     

  • Ortom makes case for judicial autonomy

    Ortom makes case for judicial autonomy

    It is wrong for the judiciary to de-pend on the executive for funding, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said.

    To him, full autonomy would make judiciary truly independent.

    He spoke at a valedictory court session in Makurdi in honour of the former Chief Judge (CJ) of Benue state, Justice Iorhemen Hwande.

    He described Hwande as a humble, God-fearing and erudite jurist, who had an outstanding career.

    “Justice Hwande rose through the ranks with an impeccable service record to become Chief Judge of Benue State, a position in which he served the state for 11 years.

    “He sustained the reputation of the State judiciary as one of best in the country through sacrificial, honest and exemplary leadership which impacted positively down the line,” he said.

    Ortom reiterated his commitment to separation of powers and pledged not to interfere with the work of the judicial and legislative arms.

    He expressed support for their autonomy.

    Justice Hwande urged Governor Ortom and his colleagues to grant the judiciary autonomy at the state level.

    He called for the appointment of CJs to the Supreme Court, stressing that emphasis should be placed on competence and integrity rather than geographical spread.

    The retiring CJ thanked his colleagues, judicial staff and the governors under whom he served for creating an enabling environment which ensured his successful tenure.

    A state banquet was held for the CJ the night before the valedictory court session.

     

     

  • Ortom: we’ll continue to support genuine Christian causes

    Ortom: we’ll continue to support genuine Christian causes

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has assured the Christian community that he will always support their pursuit of genuine causes.

    Ortom, who spoke yesterday at St Joseph’s Parish, Akpehe, Makrudi, at a thanksgiving service for him, promised to include the Akpehe-Iorhom road in the contract for the construction of township roads in Makurdi and provide a transformer for the area.

    He also donated towards the completion of the parish adoration centres.

    He thanked the parishioners for their support during the 2015 polls, and appealed for their sustained prayers for him to take right decisions and overcome challenges of statecraft for the benefit of the people.

    The governor stated that he had found a solution to the difficulty in paying salaries, saying he would remove illegal workers from the payroll so that genuine ones can be paid promptly.

    He hinted that 20 herdsmen and three youths have been arrested and are being prosecuted for contravening the anti-open grazing law, promising that every offender will be treated equally.

    President of the Parish Laity Council, Mr. Matthew Atondo, said Ortom had exhibited the fear of God, truth, transparency and concern for the plight of the people, which has endeared him to the parishioners who requested the mass to seek divine intervention for him.

    Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Adagba hailed the governor for enacting the anti-open grazing law, and for sponsoring the treatment of snake bite victims, saying such were some of the acts that could lead to a person’s canonization as a saint.

    The Christian leaders requested the repair of the road which leads to the church, a transformer to boost electricity supply to their area, as well as assistance for the completion of their adoration centre.

  • Ortom presents start-up kits to 500 youths

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has flagged off the presentation of 500 start-up kits procured by the state government to youths who graduated in five trade areas under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF.

    The trainees who received skills for three months in plaster of paris, fisheries, confectionery, welding and fabrication, as well as tailoring and garment-making were presented with start up packs at their graduation ceremony held at the Ultra International Market, Makurdi.

    Addressing the graduands, Governor Samuel Ortom urged them to make good use of the opportunity provided by setting up their businesses in order to generate wealth and also boost the economy of the state.

    He noted that having identified skills acquisition as a step towards reducing unemployment in the state, the executive council approved the establishment of three technical colleges across the three geopolitical zones of the state to equip youths with requisite skills to add value to their lives and the society.

    The governor assured that his administration would continue to partner with agencies and institutions to ensure that Benue people access skills and working capital to support their business enterprises.

    He said the state was prepared to sponsor more youths in addition to those slated for training in the next round of training by the ITF.

    Director General of the organisation, Mr. Joseph Ari, commended the Benue State Government for providing the starter packs for the trainees and enjoined them to remain committed and dedicated to making a success out of the kits.

    Ari stated that the agency would soon commence another training of 300 youths in each state of the federation who would be provided with starter packs by the agency and called on the Benue State Government to add another 200.

    Commissioner of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Tersoo Kpelai, expressed appreciation to ITF for the partnership and for its commitment to deliver on their mandate.

    He stated that the graduates have been grouped into cooperatives for effective utilisation of the kits.

    Two of the beneficiaries, Martins Adu and Daniel Ajonye, said the training has provided them with the opportunity to become self reliant and thanked the ITF and Benue State Government for the training.

     

  • Ortom ‘sacks’ aide for anti-party activities

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has sacked his Special Adviser on Economic Matters and Investment, Dr Bem Melladu.

    A letter from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Ijohor (SAN), thanked Melladu for services rendered and wished him well.

    Dr. Malladu acted as SSG for about seven months when the former SSG took ill.

    Sources said his sack might not be unconnected with his association with those opposed to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

  • I am waiting to see who’ll trespass, break our grazing law -Ortom

    I am waiting to see who’ll trespass, break our grazing law -Ortom

    As grazing law in Benue State takes effect from this month, Governor Samuel Ortom warns that anyone that breaks the law would be dealt with. In this interview with some journalists in Makurdi, Ortom said henceforth any one that wants to rear animals in the  state must ranch. Edozie Udeze was there

    YOU called on writers to partner with you on advocacy for ranches, how far do you want this to go?

    I want it to go to all the nooks and crannies of this country because the menace of herdsmen attack is not just on Benue people but it is on other Nigerians as well. We decided to champion the cause of restoring peace, orderliness and security for our own state and I appreciate the fact that other states are already keying into this programme. That is a global best practice for cattle farming or livestock farming and by the way, livestock or cattle farming is a business. You do it to get income to sustain yourself just like we here are farmers and we farm to sustain ourselves; so it should not be done at the detriment of other people. While we are living, we should also respect the rights of other people to live. It should not be at the expense of others and so I would want this thing to go beyond Benue State because when it happens to another state I won’t be a happy man. I know what we suffered between 2012 and 2016. We have estimated that we lost more than N95billion worth of goods and property, excluding human beings that died. If you go to the rural areas you’ll see schools, churches, hospitals, houses, farmlands and all that destroyed. For me, in 2013, I lost my rice farm and farm implements. My ancestral home was razed down. My entire village was razed down. More than 50 people were killed in one day. So, this is a very big challenge. For us to have arrived at sending an executive bill to the House of Assembly, we fasted and prayed and God gave us that wisdom to have a permanent solution to this problem. Go to America, go to Europe, go to Asia and even on African soil, Kenya, Tanzania are doing it; ranching. Small countries like Swaziland, I was there four years ago and their major earning is beef but they ranch, so why can’t we ranch in Nigeria? Where is the land with the upsurge of population? In the fifties when people argued that they had cattle routes and grazing areas, I ask them what was the total population of Nigeria; less than 40 million people. Today in 2017, I can approximate it to be over 200 million because the projection in 2012 was 170 million so by today we should be over 200 million. But what is the land mass?  What was it in 1950, 923, 000 square kilometres. Today it is the same 923, 000 square kilometres but even less because of the ceding of Bakassi to the Cameroon, so we have less land mass than what used to obtain when we were less in population than now. So, it’s unfortunate that we have kept sealed lips and honestly I feel so sad but I will continue to do what is right, as far as I know, as a person. Even if I die today, I know I have done the right thing. I am championing the cause of ensuring that we have ranching, which is the global best practice and is the only solution. I have challenged herdsmen, I have challenged any one, including Miyetti Allah that I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore that took us to court for a law that we legitimately passed and is threatening to invade our state; a law that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria permits us to put in place; a law that seeks to protect lives and property; a law that seeks to bring peace to our people, then you take us to court. I have said that the security agencies should arrest them for threatening me and my state that they would make the law not to function. I am waiting to see who will trespass. I am waiting to see who will not respect that law and is in Benue State. I have said it; I am not forcing anyone to live in Benue State. If you want to do open grazing, you can go to any other state that land is available. For me here, we are farmers and we cannot pay salaries as at when due as at today; so we want to have food on the table for everyone and we have massively encouraged our people to go into agriculture and they have done that. There is no single hectare of land available for grazing in Benue State. If you want to stay in Benue State, we are not sending you away; you can stay but if you have cattle, you must ranch them. If don’t ranch, the law will catch up with you and you will be sent to jail. There is no two ways about it. And we are not just talking about cattle; we are talking about livestock; so pigs, goats and all of them are all involved. So, I want as many Nigerians that can support us in advocacy and let people understand because the misconception is that the law is targeting individuals or Fulani men or certain ethnic groups and so on; it’s not right. The law seeks to ensure peace for every one living in Benue State, including Fulani herdsmen and any other person whatsoever. We want peace. And so, even the herdsmen, when they ranch, the law will protect them from cattle rustlers. There are stiff penalties waiting for cattle rustlers. So, we would appreciate this, whatever you can do within your powers to reach out to many as are ready to listen to us, please do and I believe that God will bless you. Because we have suffered enough and we think that this law is the solution and I have challenged anyone out there who thinks that there is a better option of ensuring peace and security for Benue State to bring it on the table. We are ready to call Benue stakeholders to review the whole thing again. But outside that, if they cannot challenge us with a superior policy that will restore peace, they should keep quiet and respect our views.

    Why are you handing over private schools to the owners?

    We have to make adjustments to meet with the economic realities in which we have found ourselves today as a government. It’s no longer news that we cannot pay salaries as at when due and we are trying to shelve off responsibilities that are making it impossible for us to pay salaries as at when due. If you go out there, private schools and mission schools are doing better than what government is doing, so why should we continue to sponsor them? That is the point. We have discussed with owners of schools and that was our agreement with them. We feel that we are better off, so that government can concentrate more on its schools instead of having half-baked graduates from these schools, we should concentrate on our schools and lay a sound foundation for our children. We want to go back to those days when government schools were respected. That is what motivated us and we are going to do it.

    Can you do it within the time frame you set between now and January 2019?

    It’s a process that we have to start. Others did not do it but we want to do it. I think it’s the way out. Government schools will still continue but if you want to go to a private school, you go there. Even as it is now, people are going to private schools so it doesn’t stop anything. We will continue.

    How are you able to provide dividends of democracy?

    We are prudent and it has helped us. Here in Benue State we are very prudent with the little resource we have. One, as a government that has the fear of God we promised the people even before we came in that we will ensure truthfulness, equity, fairness, justice, transparency, accountability and selflessness. We are not looking at what we can get but we are looking at what we can impact on the people. And so that has guided us. Despite the challenges we have, the little that comes in, initially things were not as bad as they are today but whatever came in we were able to apply it on those projects and the funds that came in for specific projects were channelled to those projects and that is why we have impacted today on several communities. When it comes to education, Benue State University has been paid up to date. When we came they were on strike for months. We negotiated with them and because of the attachment we have in promoting education and developing education we have paid them up to date. At the primary school we were able to secure N3.8 billion loan to match with UBEC and today we have N7.6 billion to promote primary education. Construction of new class room blocks, provision of instructional materials, provision of desks and all that is going on all over the 276 councils wards in Benue State; some are completed, some are ongoing, some will soon be completed. We are renovating our secondary schools to bring them to a standard that our children would be proud of. In the health sector, we have been able to record milestones.

    What is Benue doing to improve on rice production?

    We have done so much since we came in two years ago. In fact, we were almost losing our honour as the food basket of the nation. When we came in, we put agriculture top on our priority list and today we have bounced back. We have been able to partner with the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), we paid the counterpart funding that was needed and today, the massive impact of IFAD on Benue State agriculture is noticed in almost all the three senatorial districts. In rice production we have done so well and we are willing to close the gaps. If you go out to various communities in Benue State, you will see massive rice cultivation and we are looking forward to a bountiful harvest this year. In Soya beans we are also doing very well. It is just the market that we are looking for. Maize, sesame seed, yam, and cassava are also there. In fact

  • Herdsmen to Ortom: you can’t chase us out of Benue

    Herdsmen to Ortom: you can’t chase us out of Benue

    The Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association has challenged Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom that he has no right to chase its members from the state.

    This followed the ripples over the state’s  anti-grazing law.

    Its National President Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo, said at the weekend in Abuja that the pastoralists had the same right as indigenes.

    Bodejo denied the governor’s allegation that he is planning to cause unrest.

    He said the association had no intention to cause chaos over the anti-open grazing law.

    Bodejo said: “Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore is not a splinter of any group. This is a socio-cultural organisation and one can only be a Fulani man to be a member, unlike other associations related to cattle rearing and sale, which can accommodate anyone, once they are in cattle rearing or sale.

    “Governor Samuel Ortom asking pastoralists to leave Benue State cannot happen. We have a mandate to speak on behalf of our members and their right as Nigerians. How can a Nigerian ask other Nigerians to leave a place they are constitutionally entitled to be?”

    He decried the governor’s claim that the state lost N95 billion between 2012 and 2016.

    Describing the claim as untrue,  Bodejo noted that the pastoralists have always been at the receiving end of conflicts, especially with farmers.

    On the call for his arrest and  the National Secretary’s, Saleh Alhassan, he accused Ortom of using threat and blackmail, knowing he committed an illegality by trying to deny pastoralists their means of livelihood.

    “We are law-abiding and have always been championing peace and resolution of conflicts between pastoralists and farmers. The records are there. That was why we went to court,” Bodejo said.

    He queried the governor’s claim that the law is meant to protect farmers and herdsmen, stressing that there is no provision for the so-called ranches, except the intent to establish six detention centres, where seized or ‘arrested’ cattle will be kept and auctioned after seven days, thus legitimising cattle rustling.

    “The governor was also not specific on the fines for cattle rustling, unlike the specific penalties for pastoralists, who can be accused of open grazing,” he added.

    Bodejo, the Lamido Fulbe Nigeria, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation by calling Ortom to order.

  • Miyetti Allah to Ortom: You have no right to chase us out of Benue

    Miyetti Allah to Ortom: You have no right to chase us out of Benue

    Following the November 1 implementation date for the anti-grazing law in Benue State, the Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore Fulani socio-cultural association has challenged Governor, Samuel Ortom over the law that to forbid its members from the state.

     National President of the association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo at the weekend said at  a briefing in Abuja that the pastoralists have the same legal right like every Benue state indigene.

      Bodejo, who accused the Governor over the controversial bill and other allegations of causing unrest in the state, also denied plans to invade Benue.

     He said the association has no intention to cause chaos over the anti-open grazing law in the state.

     “Firstly the Miyetti-Allah Kautal Hore is not a splinter of any other group. This is socio-cultural organisation and one can only be a Fulani man to be a member unlike other associations related to cattle rearing and sales which can accommodate anyone is as much as they are in cattle rearing or sales businesses.

     “Also His Excellency Governor Samuel Ortom asking pastoralists to leave Benue State cannot happen. We have a mandate to speak on behalf of our members and their rights as Nigerians. How can a Nigerian ask other Nigerians to leave a place they are constitutionally entitled to be,” he said.

     He fauted the governor’s claim that the state lost N95 billion between 2012 and 2016.

     Describing the allegation as untrue, he noted that the pastoralists have always been at the receiving end of the conflicts, especially with farmers.

     On the call for his arrest and that of the association’s National Secretary Engr. Saleh Alhassan, Bodejo accused the Governor of using ‘threat and blackmail tactics’ knowing he was committing illegalities by trying to deny the pastoralists their means of livelihood.

      “We are law abiding and have always been championing pace and amicable resolutions of conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, the records are there. This was why we went to the court over this matter rather than result to self-help,” he added.

    He also questioned the governor’s claim that the law was meant to protect both the farmers and herders alike, stressing that there was no provision for the so called ranches except the intent to establish six detention centres, where seized or ‘arrested’ cattle would be kept and auctioned after seven day thus legitimizing cattle rustling.

     “The governor was also not specific on the fines for cattle rustling unlike the specific penalties for pastoralists who can be accused of open grazing.”

     Bodejo, who is also the Lamido Fulbe Nigeria urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation by calling Governor Ortom to order in the interest of peace and well-being of the state and the nation.