The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ortom

  • Ortom’s autumnal and guber insomnia

    Are we perchance going to witness a season of insomnia for our state governors soon? Some context first: recall that President Muhammadu Buhari recently whooped state governors wondering how they could in good conscience find sleep while their workers go to bed on empty stomach. He could neither understand nor live it down, he told them as they salivate for more funds from the national treasury.

    But last Monday, Benue State governor, the gentlemanly Samuel Ortom confessed that he actually cannot find sleep. Hear him: “But honestly I feel pained, I’m not sleeping either because there is no way I can have my peace when I have a challenge like this affecting everybody in Benue State including my own family who are also on my neck to ensure salaries are paid, that is how traumatized I am on the matter.”

    Gee, how wonderful it would be if all governors who cannot manage to pay their workers suffer this manner of psychological hiatus. They are not allowed to snore and rumble under their elaborate, silky white duvets. But let us return to the self-confessed vicissitudes of kindly Governor Ortom.

    The Benue helmsman from his account is truly troubled by his inability to discharge his basic function. He seeks understanding; he seeks empathy and help even. He also waits on time. And there lies the problem. He seems to hope that with time enough, the current woes would vanish; or by some alchemy, the price of crude oil would jump back to $100/per barrel and he would be awash with cash once again. This is governor Ortom’s distorted mindset.

    This explains why he apparently would not think through nor attempt to confront the problem in a businesslike manner. Consider his debacle: he met a debt of about N69 billion in arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity. He met a monthly wage bill of about N8.2 billion when he came to power about three years ago. He managed to work it down to N7.8 billion. He has a monthly federal allocation of N5 billion (which has increased to N6 billion as crude price rise) and he generates about N600 million internally monthly.

    Now hear this strange confession of Ortom’s: “Do you know that so many people are residing in parts of the country and they come here to draw salaries? I know of a chief who has 15 wives and all of them are on the payroll of a local government; he has about 20 children in secondary school and tertiary institutions… they are drawing salaries.”

    Well, Mr. Governor, if Benue State were your personal business, would you in good conscience carry a monthly wage bill of N8 b? Would that fraudulent Chief and his ilk not be in jail? Would you not harness more revenues from Benue’s rich agric wealth?

    Well, Hardball thinks any governor who cannot pay salaries really shouldn’t sleep.

     

     

  • Ortom inaugurates anti-open grazing advisory committee

    Ortom inaugurates anti-open grazing advisory committee

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has inaugurated an advisory committee on the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

    He appealled to herdsmen to cooperate to ensure successful implementation of the law.

    He spoke at the weekend while inaugurating the committee at the Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

    Ortom said the November 1 deadline set for the law’s implementation remained sacrosanct.

    He urged the herdsmen to assist in preventing those who come from other places during the dry season from entering the state.

    The goveror, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, insisted that the law remained the only solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen. He reiterated the determination of his administration to implement it.

    He charged the state advisory committee to scrutinise members at the local government levels with a view to removing those with questionable character and to work closely with the Livestock Guard earlier inaugurated to ensure the success of the implementation.

    Responding, Chairman of the Committee, Colonel Edwin Jando, (rtd), said the committee would liaise with those at the local government level to get the people acquainted with the law.

    He said in preparation for the implementation of the law, six pilot ranches would be established across the state and provided with necessary infrastructure  and social amenities as well as police posts where herdsmen who flout the law will be kept with their cattle.

    Those who attended the meeting include  the 23 council chairmen, traditional rulers, Fulani leaders, farmers, Livestock Guards, Civilian Joint Task Force, security agencies as well as members of the state security and executive councils.

    The eight-member committee includes council chairmen, chairmen of local government traditional councils, representatives of farmers and livestock owners, that of state community volunteer guards, Divisional Police Officers, representative of the Nigerian Bar Association and Head of Personnel Administration of the local government as secretary.

     

  • Miyetti Allah: Ortom backing cattle rustling

    The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association has blamed Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom for giving legal backing to cattle rustling, through establishment of six detention centres ahead of the November 1 deadline to outlaw cattle rustling.

    President of the Association Abdullahi Bodejo and National Secretary Saleh Alhassan, at a news conference in Abuja, said irrespective of the law, the association will continue with its activities, as such legislation is intended to destroy their means of livelihood.

    The herdsmen insisted that it is against the anti-grazing law.

    Ortom approved anti-grazing law, and last week  ordered arrest of leaders of Miyetti Allah for allegedly instigating violence.

    The group said it viewed the governor’s outburst as an attempt to use the media to influence and pre-empt the outcome of court processes.

    The group challenged Ortom to make public, the security documents in his possession of the alleged planned invasion of Benue by pastoralists.

    Alhassan said: “We remain totally opposed to anti-grazing law because it is intended to destroy our means of livelihood, ill-timed and driven by hatred of our people.

    “We are aware of Governor Ortom’s intention to create six detention centres, an idea which has been the major driver of the conflicts between farmers/herders in the Benue Valley, and confirming our earlier fears of the negative use of the anti-grazing law to dispose our people of their cattle.

    “We are challenging Governor Ortom to produce his aid and ally, the killer gangster, nicknamed Gana, who has been behind the serial killing of innocent people in Benue.”

  • Ortom seeks arrest of Miyetti Allah leaders

    Ortom seeks arrest of Miyetti Allah leaders

    •Governor: no going back on ranching

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has called for the arrest of the leadership of Meyetti Allah group in the state.

    The group is opposed to the Anti-Open Grazing Act expected to come in force November 1.

    Ortom, who addressed State House correspondents yesterday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said the leadership of Miyetti Allah posed a threat to life and property.

    He said: “I came to brief Mr. President about the security situation in my state; about the Meyetti Allah threat, even taking us to court. They threatened to make the Anti-Open Grazing Act impossible for the people. I intimated him on this and on the security situation in the state.

    “We have brought communal crisis to its barest minimum and we believe security agencies working with us will sustain the tempo. We will do everything to protect life and property.

    “I am a law-abiding citizen and a governor; Benue people are law-abiding and that is why in the midst of provocation from herdsmen, we took time to ensure that we put the law in place, sign it and we are going to begin implementation November 1; we hope the people will comply.

    “Everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that the law is protecting us. It is the intention of this government to protect lives and property through the rule of law.

    “One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers. We are against cattle rustling; those who are caught will be penalised. Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattle; this is what we want.

    “As far as we are concerned, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people or ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone living in Benue.

    “I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Meyetti Allah to deter others. We have for long time celebrated impunity in this country, and we cannot continue like that.”

  • APC executives back Ortom for second term

    Local government and ward chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue Northeast Senatorial District have endorsed Governor Samuel Ortom for a second term.

    They spoke yesterday at the Banquet Hall, Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

    Spokesman for the group and Kwande Local Government APC Chairman, Mr. Iorfa Zoho, said Ortom was the best man for the job.

    He listed the reopening of Benue State University and its graduation of more than 150 doctors, reconstruction of schools of nursing and midwifery, facelift of over 700 primary schools as well as implementation of minimum wage for primary school teachers as justification for the endorsement.

    “The Anti-Open Grazing Bill you have signed into law has made you first among equals. This law will end clashes between farmers and herders.

    “Zone A wishes to state without hesitation that you should make haste and declare publicly your intention for governor in 2019,” Zoho said.

    He added: “It has always been the trend and tradition from Aper Aku, through our leader, George Akume, to Gabriel Suswam. All of them governed for two tenure. Ortom cannot be an exception.”

    Speaking on behalf of the ward chairmen, Mr. Terzungwe Gbashinbo of Mbater Ward in Logo Local Government said they agreed with the position of the local government chairmen.

    Governor Ortom hailed the visit, saying it encouraged him, “since the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

    He, however, said he would seek divine guidance before making his decision public by the end of the year.

  • Killing of ex-PDP chair, seven others: Ortom visits scene, vows to prosecute perpetrators

    Killing of ex-PDP chair, seven others: Ortom visits scene, vows to prosecute perpetrators

    The Benu State governor,  Samuel Ortom, and his deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu have visited  Ogobia and Ondo communities of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State where a communal clash has led to the loss of some lives and destruction of property.

    Ortom while condeming   the ugly incident, called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the ugly act.

    He equally appealed to the people to learn to live together in harmony.

    Ortom was conducted round the crisis area by the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Hon George Alli.

    On Thursday, a former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman in Benue State, Lawrence Ugbo,  and seven others were killed, following a calsh in Ogobia and Ondo communities .

    Ugbo’s body was said to have been dumped in his car and set ablaze.

  • Benue flood: PDP hails Ortom, donates relief materials

    Benue flood: PDP hails Ortom, donates relief materials

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commended Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, for swiftly responding to the flood crisis that hit the state.

    Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, made the commendation during a courtesy call on the governor at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

    He was represented by the National Publicity Secretary of the party who led a delegation on the visit.

    “We have been very much encouraged by your response, by the way you handled the crisis; that is how a responsive leader should do, should behave in times of crisis,” he stated.

    “We want to commend your efforts, to commend you for your efficiency, for your aggressiveness and for making sure that you provide succour to the masses that have been affected and for bringing the situation under control.”

    The PDP national chairman called on the federal government to deploy part of the funds from the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to alleviate the suffering of victims in the State.

    He handed a letter to the governor in which it was stated that the delegation had brought 100 bags of rice, 100 cartons of noodles, 40 bags of salt, 30 cartons of vegetable oil, 10 cartons of bathing soap and 10 sacks of detergent for donation to the flood victims.

    Governor Ortom expressed appreciation to the PDP. He recalled that the national caretaker committee chairman had earlier phoned him to express his sympathy, promising that a delegation would soon visit the state to formally identify with the victims.

    He described the visit of the PDP officials as timely, saying it was in line with the biblical injunction which enjoins man to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.

     

  • Ortom solicits support to implement anti-open grazing law

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appealed to the people of the state to support the administration to implement the anti-open grazing law from November, 2017.

    He made the appeal at the funeral of the late Emmanuel Akem, a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who was laid to rest at Ningev in Vandeikya Local Government Area yesterday.

    Governor Ortom stated that there were threats against the implementation of the law from some cattle breeders, pointing out that he needed the support of the people to withstand the threat and implement the law, insisting that it has come to stay.

    He stated that while the state government has not asked anyone to leave, those who wish to rear cattle and other livestock in Benue must ranch in accordance with the law.

    The governor said the implementation of the law has become imperative following massive cultivation of the land, as a result of advocacy for intensified farming efforts, leaving no room for fallow land and open grazing.

    He described the deceased as a kind-hearted man who cared for humanity and related well with all classes of people.

    The Senator representing Benue North-West, Dr George Akume, described the deceased as a patriotic Nigerian who contributed to ensuring free and fair elections, especially in 2015.

    In his sermon, pastor in charge of NKST Church, Girgi, Rev Daniel Beba enjoined those alive to purchase their ticket to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ and good deeds.

  • I’ve no reason to work against Ortom, says Akume

    I’ve no reason to work against Ortom, says Akume

    The senator representing Benue North West, George Akume, has said his support for Governor Samuel Ortom is strong.

    He added that he has no reason to work against him.

    Akume, North Central leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) spoke when Gwer women, under the auspices of “Ortom/Akume Mothers 2019”, visited him in Makurdi.

    He noted that the election of Ortom as governor was divine, despite obstacles allegedly put on his way by former Governor Gabriel Suswam.

    Akume dispelled rumour of a clash of interest between him and the governor, describing such speculation as the handiwork of wicked elements, who plundered the state’s resources.

    Said he: “Now that these elements have been sent packing, they are praying for disunity among stakeholders of the present government so they can leverage on that to wrest power. But God will prevent their plans from materialising.”

    The senator, who said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) need the forgiveness of Nigerians and not their votes, challenged his critics to bring their records to the table.

    He urged the women to support Ortom for re-election and his senatorial ambition, as he is not tired of representing them at the  National Assembly.

    The former Minority leader praised the Masev clan, with its personalities, right from the days of the late Lushakyaa Anja, Ayua Num, Aernyi Kungur, Dr. Joshua Adagba and present political leaders, who are focused and reliable.

    He enjoined the women to apply decorum in politicking by embracing other groups with same ideology.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Michael Gusa thanked the APC leader for his fatherly disposition towards faithful,  saying Benue would tap from his wisdom and kind heartedness.

  • Ortom: I have never accused Catholic Churches of ganging up against me

    Ortom: I have never accused Catholic Churches of ganging up against me

    Benue governor Samuel Ortom said on Friday in Makurdi that he had never accused the  Catholic Church of ganging up against his administration.
    Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase, was reacting to a report circulated on the social and conventional media, which quoted him as making that remark.

    The report had quoted Ortom as accusing Catholic Churches of planning to use their huge population to vote him out in 2019.
    It further quoted Ortom as saying that he would mobilise other Christian denominations to neutralise the Catholic Churches and shame them by securing his second term bid.

    But Ortom, who accused the opposition of spewing hatred against him, said that he could not have made such remark against the Catholic Church or any other group in Benue.

    “As a leader, who came in God’s name and was popularly elected by the people, the governor knows the role the Church played in his emergence and has remained in constant touch with all Christian denominations.

    “The statement credited to him is a smear campaign by members of the opposition seeking to pit him against one of the biggest Churches in the land.

    “We knew this could happen and had alerted the public to watch out for more sponsored campaigns from the opposition to smear the governor.

    “The report is part of that grand design by failed politicians who, after being rejected by the people in the last general election, have vowed to make Benue ungovernable,” the statement said.

    It said that the aim was to malign the governor, and regretted “the gradual drift into the shameful abyss of hate scripts and comments against the person and office of the Governor”.

    The statement urged members of the public to ignore the report, and challenged those circulating it to publish the evidence of where and when the governor made it.