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Tag: Ortom

  • Ortom denies spending N200m on Democracy Day

    Ortom denies spending N200m on Democracy Day

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has debunked rumours that he spent N200 million on Democracy Day celebrations.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, Ortom described the report as false and mischievous.

    He said a “letter” purportedly written by the Secretary to the State Government to the Commissioner of Finance for the release of N200 million was forged.

    The statement reads: “Those conversant with the system know that requests for the release of government fund have to be approved by the governor, after which they are conveyed to the Finance Commissioner by the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration.

    “A letter purportedly written by the Secretary to the State Government to the Finance Commissioner demanding the release of funds is not tenable in the government of Benue State.

    “The credibility of the letter has been further destroyed by the fact that even the SSG’s first name was wrongly spelt as ‘Targena’ instead of ‘Targema’.”

    Governor Ortom said his administration did not hold Democracy Day celebrations but Jumat prayers and an interdenominational church service, both at N2 million.

    “The memorandum requesting funds for the events was raised by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Terwase Orbunde, and money was released through his office.

    “The breakdown of the expenditure is as follows: Jumat prayers: N500, 000 and interdenominational church service: N1, 500, 000.

    “We urge media practitioners and the public to dig into the expenditure for Democracy Day Celebrations of the immediate past administration and compare with our frugal handling of a similar event.

    “We urge the public to dismiss and disregard the publication as the handiwork of mischief makers out to discredit the Ortom administration,” the statement added.

  • Gunmen kill Ortom’s security aide

    Gunmen kill Ortom’s security aide

    MR. Denen Igbana, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Security to Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, was yesterday killed by gunmen. Igbana was said to have been killed along Tionsha settlement, a suburb of Makurdi, while on his way from an official assignment. According to sources, his assailants laid ambush for him and opened fire on his vehicle, a Nissan Hilux.

    Eyewitnesses said the deceased jumped down from the vehicle and made efforts to escape, but was overpowered by the gunmen who shot him multiple times. “He was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi, but later died,” one of the eyewitnesses said. Many people cried uncontrollably when news of his killing filtered into town.

    Narrating how the incident happened, one of the community leaders in the area, Thomas Ayakpam, said: “The assailants waylaid the late security aide on his way back home in the night and sprayed bullets on his Nissan Hilux .They shot him severally, giving him no chance to survive.

    We could not come out to rescue him because we were scared, as they seem to be many and the shots they fired shook the whole community to its foundation.“ Governor Ortom, who paid a condolence visit to the deceased’s family, charged security operatives to carry out full investigation into the murder, stressing that anyone found culpable will be made to face the consequences of their actions.

  • Ortom cancels Bsu levy

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has directed the immediate withdrawal of conditional charges introduced by the management of the Benue State University. He ordered that staus quo should remain.

    He directed the management to refund those who had already paid the new charges.

    Governor Ortom stated that he took the action following repeated appeals from stakeholders in the university including prominent citizens, parents, students as well as the general populace.

    He said as a democratically elected governor, he has a responsibility to be sensitive to the plight and views of his people.

    He assured that the state government would explore other avenues to raise internally generated revenue to address the concerns that made the university to introduce the charges.

    “We are also verifying the sources of income of the university and if we see that there is need for a review of the conditional charges we shall seek inputs of stakeholders including members of the State House of Assembly,” Ortom stressed.

    He regretted the discomfort and pains which the development might have caused. Ortom also praised both management and students of the institution for not allowing the issue to spiral out of control.

    He expressed appreciation to all those who took time off to raise the matter with him personally or at other appropriate forums.

  • Ortom signs 2016 budget

    Ortom signs 2016 budget

    •Offers N5m for information on kidnapped priest

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has vowed to provide a conducive atmosphere for the House of Assembly to operate.

    Giving the assurance yesterday while signing the 2016 budget of N150.7 billion into law, he said he would not interfere with the assembly’s activities.

    Ortom said for the purpose of checks and balances, the executive will prefer a situation where the judiciary and the legislature operate independently, stressing that synergy will bring about faster development.

    He said his administration would ensure that the provisions of the budget, which had recurrent and capital expenditure of N66.592 billion and N84.148 billion, would be complied with, adding that lawmakers should ensure its implementation through oversight functions.

    The governor said in line with his administration’s fight against corruption, the budget provisions would not be contravened, noting that last year’s budget was not properly monitored.

    He urged the director of budget to ensure extra budgetary expenditure does not arise, warning that if there must be such a thing, he must be informed so that approval would be given for supplementary budget or adjustments.

    While presenting copies of the budget to the governor for his assent, Speaker Terkimbi Ikyange said it was increased from N133. 3 billion to N150.7 billion because of projects in the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    Ortom has offered to pay N5 million for information on the whereabouts of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the kidnapped Vicar-General of Otukpo Catholic Diocese.

    He said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua that it was regrettable that one month after the incident, security agents were yet to apprehend the culprits and rescue the cleric.

    He urged the public to assist with information about his whereabouts, saying any person or group who offers such information will be given N5 million.

    The governor sympathised with the family of the late Gen. Gabriel Kpamber (rtd), who died in an accident last weekend.

    He prayed that God should give them and the indigenes the fortitude to bear the loss.

     

  • Ortom at 55

    Ortom at 55

    “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed no help at all.”
    — Dale Carnegie

    THE above words of renowned American writer and teacher, Dale Carnegie, aptly tell the story of the present Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ioraer Ortom, a man who rose through the ranks of life to occupy very high offices in the land.

    According to another American writer, Casey Stengel, “There are three kinds of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who ask, ‘What happened?”. Samuel Ortom obviously belongs to the fist group in Stengel’s classification. The 55 years Governor Ortom has so far spent on earth have brought smiles to the faces of many and wiped tears off the cheeks of more.

    Born on 23rd April, 1961 in Nzorov, Nongov in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, young Samuel Ortom, who rose from humble beginnings, ultimately overcame poverty and launched himself into state and national reckoning.

    Governor Ortom’s story is that of determination, focus and burning desire for success. It is the same thirst for success and greater success that led the former Chairman of the Guma Local Government Area, top party official and minister to aspire to govern his state. So it came to pass that the revelation God made to Samuel Ortom way back in 1992 and reaffirmed in 2012 was fulfilled on April 11, 2015 when the people of Benue State came out in their thousands to vote for him as their  governor.

    Flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ortom was clearly up against the tide as he faced the candidate of the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic party, PDP. The rest as they say is history. Today, Samuel Ortom holds the record as the fist candidate of an opposition party in Benue State to defeat the candidate of the ruling party.

    Widely regarded as a reliable bridge between the poor and the rich, Governor Ortom has positively impacted on many lives in Benue State and the country at large. Before he became Governor, Ortom was Proprietor and Chairman, Oracle Business Limited, the firm that owns Goshen Water which produces bottled and sachet water; Oracle Oil Mills, Oracle Printing Press, as well as Oracle Farms Limited which handles mechanized farming and animal husbandry.

    He was also Chairman, Capital Prints Limited which handles commercial printing, publishing and documentation as well as Chairman, Achive

    Engineering Limited which is into civil and mechanical construction. The companies have offered employment to hundreds of people.

    One of the greatest manifestations of Governor Ortom’s humaneness lies in the establishment of Oracle Business Limited Foundation which handles redemptive and empowerment services.

    Under the foundation, Dr. Ortom set aside funds at Bishop Murray Hospital, Makurdi and Rahama Hospital, Gboko Road, Makurdi for free treatment of hernia and snakebite patients.

    These were among numerous other indelible qualities of this humble son of Benue that endeared him to the people of the state who overwhelmingly gave him their mandate as governor on April 11 last year.

    Though he inherited an empty and deficit treasury, Governor Ortom did not let that fact discourage him from hitting the ground running with good governance.

    Today, a number of projects are ongoing across the state, while numerous others are in the process of being awarded. Applications for the construction and rehabilitation of 700 primary schools in the 23 local government areas have been received by the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, and bidding for the contracts will soon commence.

    The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has deservedly rated Benue as the first state in the payment of marching grant for primary education projects. This feat has been achieved following the efforts made by the Ortom administration which set aside N7.6 billion in collaboration with UBEC for the 700 school projects.

    Within the same period, Benue State has become the first state to achieve the 2015 Round of MDGs/SDGs Conditional Grants in Nigeria for the construction of primary health centres, skills acquisition centres, among other projects in over 30 communities of the state.

    After 12 years of stagnation, medical students of Benue State University breathed the air of graduation following Governor Ortom’s payment of the accreditation fee for the School of Health Sciences at the university.

    The Ortom administration has also embarked on 116 water projects under the Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, BERWASSA, in parts of the state.

    Governor Ortom has approved contracts for the facelift of 64 post-primary schools across the state.

    Work on the School of Nursing and Midwifery is near completion ahead of the reaccreditation of the

    institution.

    Contractors have been remobilized to site on ten roads abandoned by the previous administration while work has commenced in earnest on two new roads in the state  the Mobile Barracks  Yaikyo  Apir Road and

    the  Origbo  Imande  Akpu  Gbajimba Road.

    Sanity has returned to public service in Benue as financial leakages are plugged in compliance with the change mantra of the present administration.

    Governor Ortom has left no one in doubt regarding his zero tolerance for corruption as shown in his administration’s efforts to recover N107 billion looted during the previous government.

    This achiever, industrialist, philanthropist and administrator par excellence has turned 55 and has chosen to thank God and dedicate his stewardship for the state to the creator instead of organising a lavish birthday party where the meagre resources of the state will be spent. There is, therefore, every reason for the people of Benue to join the governor in praising the name of God for his life and praying that he receives greater wisdom to enable him steer the affairs of the state. Happy birthday Governor Samuel Ortom!

    • Akase is Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor
  • Ortom visits Agatu after attacks

    Ortom visits Agatu after attacks

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has solicited the support of  the Federal Government, global agencies, organisations and individuals to rehabilitate destroyed communities in Agatu and other parts of the state.

    He implored the Federal Government to institute a commission of enquiry to examine the causes of the attacks, document the losses and recommend solution.

    The governor, who addressed reporters at Okokolo in Agatu Local Government after executive and security council members inspected the communities destroyed by herdsmen, described the magnitude of destruction as monumental.

    He said it was beyond the financial capacity of the state to rehabilitate the communities.

    Ortom said he visited some of the places attacked by insurgents in the Northeast, but the magnitude of devastation in Agatu exceeded those places.

    He urged the Federal Government and people of goodwill to assist the state in repairing the ravaged communities.

    The governor said his administration would build the road from Obagaji to Agagbe in Gwer West Local Government, while the road from Oshigbudu to Obagaji would be completed to enhance accessibility to the area.

    Those who spoke, including Agatu Caretaker Chairman, Joseph Ngbede, traditional rulers of Agatu and Apa, Chiefs Godwin Onah and John Antenyi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in the area, John Ngbede, Special Adviser, Alhaji Isah Usman, assembly member, Alhaji Sale Audu and former council chairman, Mike Inalegwu, hailed Ortom for restoring peace to the area.

     

  • Buhari, Ngige, Fashola, Ortom, others bid Ocholi final farewell

    Buhari, Ngige, Fashola, Ortom, others bid Ocholi final farewell

    It was a sad moment for the people of Abocho community in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State when the remains of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi (SAN), his wife, Blessing Fatimah Ocholi, and his son, Joshua Ocholi, were buried at their home town, Ogbagidi.

    The event, which took place at the open field of the Local Government Area Primary School, Abocho, witnessed hundreds of people who came from far and near to pay their last respects to the late minister, his wife and son.

    The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion, described the late Ocholi as one of his right hand men in the quest to reposition the country and fashion a land of peace and prosperity, where no one is oppressed.

    President Buhari noted that among many other positive and pleasant things, he would always remember Ocholi for his “loyalty to our beloved country Nigeria, loyalty to their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and loyalty to his administration, in which he had served for just about four months, before death took him”.

    He mentioned that he believed so much in him and in his ability to add value to the governance of his state that he followed him round the state on campaign.

    He added that mattered to Ocholi was the birth of a strong and solid party, which could wrest power at the centre and bring change to the country.

    Said the president: “He was part of the change cabinet resolved to bringing our country out of the woods and position Nigeria among the greats in the comity of nations.”

    Also speaking, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in his tribute noted that the late James Ocholi grabbed life by the jugular and squeezed his due from its clenched first.

    He said: “James started succeeding early, and by his achievements drafted an airtight brief on how to live life well – with urgency, making massive impact as one goes. Everyone from the President and Commander-in-Chief, to the lowliest beneficiaries of his greatness in Dekina, to many other places known and unknown are mourning him today.

    “His manner, demeanour and way of speaking readily showed his depth of character, intelligence and breeding. He proved himself a brilliant, honest and most respectable legal practitioner.”

    Speaking on behalf of the children, Barr. Aaron Ocholi said they would miss their father, mother and his brother, Joshua greatly.

    He said that his father was passionately hard-working, with a large heart, and was his role model and mentor, as he taught him even from his mistakes.

    Other notable Nigerians at the burial included Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Kogi deputy governor, Simon Achuba, Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, immediate past governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen. Alex Kadiri, former minister of police affairs, Humphrey Abah, Justice Tom Yakubu of the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, Kogi State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), John Ibenu, clergy and traditional rulers.

  • Ortom: Those who lie against us need repentance

    Ortom: Those who lie against us need repentance

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has admonished the opposition, who publish falsehood against him and his administration, to repent.

    Ortom, who spoke yesterday at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), House of Joy, Otukpo, enjoined those who have vowed never to say any good thing about his administration to read Proverbs 19:5 which says, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free”.

  • Ortom approves 12 roads

    Ortom approves 12 roads

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has approved the building of 12 roads.

    Nine of them were awarded by the last administration, but were abandoned. The contractors have been mobilised and work has begun.

    The roads approved by the Commissioner for Works, Transport and Energy, Mr. Emmanuel Manger, for construction are Zaki Biam -Afia-Gbeji Road (46.52km); Taraku-Naka- Agagbe Road (61km); Oju-Obussa-Utonkon Road (52.00km); Otukpo-Utonkon- Igumale Road (55.61km);

    Oshigbudu-Ogbaji Road (10km); Igbor-Ikpa-Wannune Road (36.732km); Vandeikya -Kotiyough-Adikpo Road (32.00km); Ge-Ikyobo- Agbeede-Amua-Anshagba Road (37km) and Tordonga-Zaki Biam with spur to Tsewuaze-Tiza-Shila Road (45.14km).

    The governor has also approved the building of three roads. They are:

    Makurdi Outer Ring Road (Mobile Police Road); Mobile Barracks-Adeke- Welfare Quarters-Yaikyo – Apir Road (24km) and Origbo-Imande-Akpur- Gbajimba Road (40. 397km.

    The government said it will award contracts for more roads later.