Tag: Ortom

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said his administration will apply the “stick approach” to solve problems in the state.

Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Ortom said the approach followed the “carrot approach” that was introduced earlier.

He noted that the carrot approach succeeded to a level because some people surrendered their arms, while many returned to their old ways because they were insincere.

Their insincerity, he said, necessitated the use of force.    His words: “The carrot approach succeeded to some extent as many people surrendered their arms. But some went back to their old ways because they were insincere.

“We have now adopted the stick approach; security agencies in the state must restore safety to the state. The state must be secured from robbers, kidnappers and assassins. We need to rid our society of criminals.

“We also intend to encourage investors and they will not come if the state is not secure.”

Ortom added that his administration’s decision to declare Friday as public holidays is to allow civil servants embrace agriculture, a decision he said has been yielding result.

“It is the right way to go; if we do not have money to do other things, we should have money to sustain ourselves,” he said.

The governor said he was at the State House to brief the Presidency of efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.

•To partner vigilance groups against crime

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has vowed to arrest Terwase Akwaza, also known as ‘Gana’, who has continued to terrorise the state.

The governor, who made this promise yesterday when the Ugondo Development Association (UDA) visited him at the Government House, said he will personally lead soldiers and other security agencies to fish out Akwaza.

Gana has been linked to the murder of Ortom’s security aide, Denen Igbana and the governor’s calls for him to report himself and answer questions in connection with Igbana’s death has been ineffective.

An angry Ortom, who described Akwaza as a ‘pig’, lamented that after giving him a job in his government to fight crime, he turned around to be a thorn in the flesh of his administration.

“I had good intentions but didn’t know he would return to his vomit. But I will deal with him and his boys; I will personally lead security agencies to go after him,” Ortom said.

President of UDA Chief Alagyo Othamel praised Ortom for sending a bill on prohibition of open grazing and urged the House of Assembly to expedite action on it to forestall further crisis.

The governor also promised to support the state chapter of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria to fight crime.

Ortom spoke when he received members of the group, led by the matron, Mrs. Regina Akume, at the Benue People’s House yesterday. He noted that law enforcement agencies needed synergy with other organisations to enable them to succeed.

He said his administration would continue to make provision for security and advised the vigilance group to unify their purposes. The governor thereafter directed his Special Adviser on Security to harmonise the various vigilante groups into one formidable body for the purpose of receiving government’s support.

State Commander Samuel Ahungwa Zungwenen told Ortom that his members have been arresting fake currency dealers and other criminals and so requested him to equip their new head.

Zungwenen said the governor would be invited to commission the head office, adding that he would be decorated as patron of the organisation at the occasion.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said embattled Speaker of the House of Assembly Emmanuel Ayua, will not be shielded from the law.

The Speaker and some lawmakers are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption.

Speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Ortom vowed not to take sides with anyone being investigated for tampering with state funds.

He noted that corruption and waste, which resulted in inadequate funds, have hampered his administration.

He said: “Yes it is a good thing; it is part of the process as they are being investigated by the EFCC. From day one, I raised a slogan “If you chop money, money will chop you”. I sent signals that nobody is above the law; if you do it wrong, you will go your own way.

“As far as I’m concerned, they are under investigation. Let’s wait for the outcome. My government will not shield anybody who is corrupt and found wanting.

“From me and every other lieutenant, we are open to scrutiny. There is the freedom of information act and people are allowed to get information from these sources, the only thing is that there is no point telling lies and peddling falsehood against leaders, like I heard somebody said we transferred $2.4 billion to an account.

“Which account, where is the money? Money that I don’t have to conduct local government election or pay salaries. If I have it, won’t I pay them?

“So it is allowed; EFCC is an agency charged to investigate corruption and whoever is foud culpable should face the music.”

Contrary to reports in some publications, Governor Samuel Ortom and his officials are not under investigation by any anti-graft body, according to government statement.

“Our attention has been drawn to publications alleging that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was investigating Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, over N4.29 billion fraud,” read the statement. “The allegations, which are false and mischievous, are calculated at tarnishing the image of the governor and his administration.

“Writers of the reports claimed that they were based on three petitions sent to the EFCC. According to the reports, Governor Ortom siphoned over N2.6 billion through the bank account of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Emmanuel Udende.”

Mr Udende has already issued a statement denying the authenticity of the said bank details. “EFCC does not need to be told when huge money hits somebody’s account because the Nigerian Financial Intelligence (NFI) Unit is an arm of the Commission which alerts them about all large sum transactions,” read his statement.

“The glo phone number provided in the report is not mine. I don’t have a driving licence. I use my international passport in my transactions. The Bank accounts provided are also not mine. No funds were transferred into my accounts as contained in the report at any point. My bank accounts do not have such amounts of money mentioned.

“If truly EFCC has received a petition of that nature, why have they not invited me up till now? Should we be hearing about the said petition on the pages of newspapers?”

Further, noted the government statement, checks at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, where an alleged N929,903,967.00 was stolen by two persons, revealed the following:

“Mr Festus Andoor is the cashier of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who has the mandate to make withdrawals from the Joint Allocation Account Committee’s Bank account as approved by the 23 local government chairmen at JAAC meetings.

“These approvals include disbursement of funds to tackle security challenges, especially herdsmen’s attacks in the 23 Local Government Areas in recent times as well as other emergencies such as the burial of the late Tor Tiv Orchivirigh, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula.”

The withdrawals made covered the amount mentioned in the allegations and fell within the period quoted by the publications, read the statement which added that “with regard to John J. Bako, he is a police officer overseeing the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state. It is on record that the immediate past administration instituted an arrangement of providing monthly logistics to support the squad in the Local Government Areas.

“The current administration inherited this policy and sustained it. None of the amounts referred to has been paid into any private account belonging to Governor Samuel Ortom’s associates as alleged. It is to be noted that the figures quoted in the publications with regard to the Bureau were contained in the submissions it voluntarily presented to the Public Accounts Committee of the State House of Assembly.

“The public is to note that no official of the Bureau or the executive arm is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for any reason whatsoever and there is no basis for such.

“The publications are part of a grand design by those indicted by the Kpojime Commission for looting N107 billion from the coffers of the state who are using part of the resources to fight the Ortom administration. we enjoin members of the public to disregard the spurious allegations and be assured that efforts to recover the loot are on course”.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday visited the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Targema Takema, who is recuperating at the National Hospital, Abuja.

After the visit, Ortom confirmed that Takema was fast improving, according to doctors’ reports.

The governor earlier met with the acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Villa, where they discussed security and other matters of state. He also visited the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, at the Force Headquarters for further discussion on collaboration on security and other issues.

The governor will attend the National Economic Council meeting today.

•Receives third set of graduates

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday announced the restoration of subvention for the State university’s College of Health Sciences.

He spoke when the college’s management led the third set of graduates on a courtesy visit to the Benue Peoples House.

Governor Ortom assured them that despite the state’s financial challenges, he would continue to pay the school’s subvention so it could continue to produce medical doctors.

He also agreed to pay for the license of the 28 graduate-doctors, as well as attend their oath-taking ceremony.

College Provost Prof Simeon Adebisi lauded Ortom for breaking the jinx of non-accreditation of the college to facilitate the graduation of medical doctors.

He, however, listed subvention, lack of carrying capacity, study aids and staffing as issues that set the college back.

President of the set, Dr Terlumun Surma thanked Governor Ortom for ensuring that they graduated after spending about 11 years in medical school.

He solicited financial assistance to his classmates to enable them obtain practising licenses.

Dr. Surma announced that his set would offer free medical services in the governor’s village as a gesture of appreciation for his role in their graduation.