The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ortom

  • We’ll seize illegal weapons, says Ortom

    We’ll seize illegal weapons, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said security agencies have been mobilised to begin seizure of illegal weapons.

    He spoke at the funeral of Aya Nyiekor Abbagu, at Mtserkyaa Abbagu village in Ukum Local Government.

    Ortom said conventional security agencies, such as the police, army, civil defence corps and state security service had been mobilised to arrest possessors of illegal weapons “and seize such from them at the end of this month.”

    He said insecurity was a threat to residents, especially to the commitment of his administration to creating an enabling environment for investment to thrive.

    The governor said the carrot approach he used to tackle such people would expire on August 31, after which he would wield the big stick.

    He solicited the cooperation of community, religious and traditional leaders to curb crime.

    Ortom said in the onslaught that would go into full swing at the beginning of next month, anybodywho harbours anyone with illegal weapon will be arrested.

    He thanked God that the deceased enjoyed a long life, as she died at the age of 123 and prayed that others should also live long.

    The governor reiterated his pledge to rule with the fear of God and be transparent in doing government business, urging the people to hold him and other government officials to account.

  • Ortom lauds NB Plc for Makurdi brewery

    Ortom lauds NB Plc for Makurdi brewery

    Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has practised Nigerian Breweries Plc for the bold step it took in revamping its Makurdi brewery.

    The governor made the commendation when he visited the brewery on a familiarisation tour. During the visit, he also unveiled a mock up bottle of the new More lager beer, commissioned a road named after him and planted a commemorative tree within the brewery.

    Delivering his welcome address earlier, Managing Director/CEO NB Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde stated that following the merger of Nigerian Breweries and Consolidated Breweries in December 2014, the company began an upgrade of facilities at the brewery to match the world class standards of breweries.

    “The upgrade with a total investment of over N1billion, in 2015 alone, led to the total overhaul of the brewery production process which can be seen in the improved quality of More Lager. Today’s More Lager, still proudly brewed in Benue, is now comparable to any international beer of repute.”

    Vervelde, who was represented by Mr. Samson Aigbedo, Head Brewery Operations, added that the upgrade of Makurdi Brewery reflects the company’s confidence in the fundamentals of the Nigerian economy and commitment to the development of Benue State as a host community.

  • Fayose, Ortom and their ‘rags to riches’ stories

    Fayose, Ortom and their ‘rags to riches’ stories

    Both Ekiti State returnee governor Ayo Fayose and Benue State fresher governor Samuel Ortom have spoken gleefully of their harassed childhood as either bus conductors/motor boys or bus and taxi drivers and motor park officials. Their accounts are thought to be genuine and inspiring stories of rags to riches; stories designed to demonstrate that anyone can tap into the Nigerian dream and become whatever he wants to become, lawfully and gracefully. The stories are not only convincingly of Dickensian proportions, they hark back to the lives of Genghis Khan who created the largest empire in history and the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

    A few years before, former president Goodluck Jonathan had also rendered his own fascinating story of rags to riches, rising from a shoeless nobody to a debonair wonder. In the early years of his presidency, Dr Jonathan was never tired of inflicting his now allegorised shoeless stories on a testy and wary public. His Christian audience cooed in wonderment at the myths he wove around his bare feet, and his detractors chafed relentlessly in puzzles, both impelled to react to what they argued was either unprecedented piffle or unrestrained, virtuoso music.

    But, as Dr Jonathan’s shoeless story demonstrated, harrowing childhood stories have their drawbacks and limitations. When Dr Jonathan and his wife began to festoon their dual mandate with jarring malapropisms and disruptive misrule, the public wondered whether the former president’s childhood deprivations had not irreparably scarred him. He was unable to respond to life’s higher and eternal verities, they mourned. He was a philistine who was inured to culture and civilisation, they also mocked. And like that great narcissist and apostle of ochlocracy, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Jonathan despised his betters and raucously and furiously sought advantage over them, no matter how little.

    Alas, too, Mr Fayose, more than anyone in Nigerian history, has shown himself deeply and emotionally scarred. Whether in his first abridged term or during last year’s electioneering, the Ekiti governor showed there was no refinement left in him. How such a coarse man won a governorship election, and affects to speak grandly on moral and exigent issues of the day must be one of the most befuddling political events ever in Nigeria.  Mr Ortom, a deeply religious man, it is said, had not shown any of the classical symptoms of deprived childhood. But notwithstanding his intellectual and political accomplishments and his humanistic approach to governance, he will leave many of his compatriots on tenterhooks, as they wait nervously for the other shoe to drop.

     

  • Benue political crisis: Waku, Jime reconcile with Ortom

    … after Buhari’s intervention

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday announced the reconciliation of Senator Joseph Waku and Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

    He also stated that Waku and Jime had withdrawn their suit challenging the candidacy of Ortom in the last governorship election.

    Addressing journalists at the conference hall of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat in Abuja, Dogara said the development followed the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Speaker said the President took the initiative with the objective of healing wounds within the ranks of the party and positioning it to deliver quality service to the people of Benue State.

    According to him President Buhari lamented the hardship inflicted on Benue people by the last administration and reiterated the need for the APC government to redress the situation as soon as possible.

    He commended the Governor for starting on a sound footing by paying workers’ salaries.

    The Speaker directed that the parties involved should embrace one another to demonstrate that they had reconciled, and they did.

    In his response, Governor Ortom commended the President for his intervention.

    He also commended both Senator Waku and Rt. Hon. Jime for their spirits of sportsmanship and the sacrifice they had made in the interest of the party.

    He noted the contributions of his colleagues from Sokoto, Plateau, Imo and Nasarawa states, and the personal presence of three of them. He also thanked the national officials of the party.

    Ortom said with the reconciliation, he would perform better in securing the state and providing good governance and leadership.

    Senators George Akume and Barnabas Gemade; state party chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro; Justice Augustine Utsaha rtd; Dr Fidelis Anweh; Titus Madugu; Hon Avine Agbom and Mike Gbe were among the politicians from Benue State who witnessed the event.

  • Ortom begins probe of Suswam’s administration

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has constituted two committees to probe the Gabriel Suswam administration.

    He said it was not to witch-hunt the last government but to know how it managed public funds.

    The committees set up are the Judicial Commission of Enquiry and the Commission of Enquiry into the Sale/Lease of Government Assets.

    The Judicial Commission of Enquiry is saddled with the responsibility of identifying revenue resources and the amount of revenue, which accrued to the state between 2007 and 2015.

    It was set up to ascertain the funds received by the  government from the allocation from the Federal Government, local government funds, IGR, bonds and loans, excess crude account, small and medium enterprise (SME) funds, ecological funds, VAT, Sure-P funds, SUBEB, MDGs and any other fund.

    The commission of enquiry is to also ascertain the quantum of shares/stock owned by the state in companies to ascertain the circumstances leading to the sale of shares and their worth or value.

    It is to identify the investors who bought the shares and determine whether the transaction followed due process.

    The commission of enquiry is to ascertain the whereabouts of the proceeds sold, determine the state equity in the companies and values of such equity.

    It is to ascertain if the funds realised from the sale were appropriated, to know how the funds were applied and utilised, establish misappropriation if any and identify persons involved and to recommend appropriate action to the government.

    The Commission of Enquiry into the Sale/Lease of Government Property is to identify the government properties that have been sold/lease since June 2007, determine the status and correct value of such properties as at the time of sale/lease.

    It is to identify those who bought or took on lease, such properties and in case of lease, determine what improvements have been made and the subsisting interest of the government in the transaction, to determine the value of sale/lease and establish whether the transactions were in the interest of government and if due process was followed.

    It is to determine whether the terms of lease agreement have been complied with and to review all such transactions and advise government on the appropriate actions in the interest of the people and good governance.

    The two committees were given six months to submit their reports.

     

  • Ortom closes defence at tribunal

    Benue State Governor Samuel  Ortom has closed his defence at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi.

    He told the tribunal that he resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) and registered with the All Progressives Congress (APC) last December 9.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Mr Teherv Agezua said a former PDP Nzorov ward chairman in Guma Local Government Area, Felix Agbaka and incumbent APC Nzorov ward chairman  Adikpe Ezekiel testified for Ortom.

    Agbaka tendered the governor’s resignation letter from the PDP.

    Ezekiel said he registered Ortom on the same date and issued him a membership card.

    The ward chairman, who identified both the card and register, also stated that he wrote to the party’s council chairman notifying him about what he described as the ‘big catch’ and later took the party register to the state secretariat.

    He also identified the letter he wrote to the local government party chairman. The letter, alongside all the other documents were admitted and marked accordingly.

    The other respondents to the petition, the APC and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), have equally entered their defence and called witnesses.

    Agezua said the governor, last weekend assigned portfolios to his commissioners and special advisers.  The governor  made the announcement at the end of a three-day retreat at Benue Peoples House.

    The exercise saw the appointment  of the former  Managing Partner, Michael Gusa and  Company, as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General.

    Other commissioners and special advisers assigned portfolios are: David Olofu (Finance); Odeh Ageh (Information and Orientation); Emmanuel Manger (Works and Transport);  Nick Wende (Water Resources and Environment); Mwuese Mnyim – Women Affairs; Professor Dennis Ityavyar – Education, Science and Technology; James Anbua – Agriculture; Arts, Culture and Tourism – Sekav Iyortyom; Youths and Sports–Onoja Lawrence; Housing and Urban Development -John Otokpa; Industry, Trade and Investment – Dr.  Tersoo Kpelai; Health and Human Services –Dr. Cecilia Ojabo

    Gusa was born on May 27, 1967 at Mbakyan, Ugee Ward in Gwer Local Government Area, Benue state.

    He started early education at Local Government Education Authority, LGEA Primary school, Agasha, 1973, moved to LGEA Primary School Abinsi, and completed at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Mission, R.C.M. Primary School, Taraku, in 1978.

    Thereafter he proceeded to Gaadi Comprehensive College, Vandeikya, between 1979 and 1980 and later moved to Mount Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School, Makurdi; 1980-1984, obtaining the General Certificate of Education, GCE Ordinary Level.

    Mr. Gusa also attended the School of Basic Studies, Makurdi from 1984-1986 and obtained the Interim Joint Matriculation Board, IJMB, certificate in 1986.

    He gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1987 obtained the Bachelor’s Degree in Law in 1990 and proceeded to Nigeria Law School, Lagos from where he graduated in 1991 and was called to the bar in the same year.

    He was Counsel in Chambers at Lobi Chambers, Makurdi, 1992-1993; Principal Partner, Michael Gusa and Company, 1994-2005; Special Assistant to the Governor, 2005-7; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Poverty Alleviation, 2008-11 and 2013 to February, 2015 as well as Managing Partner, Michael Gusa and Company, before his appointment as commissioner.

  • ‘Adeboye prayed for me to become governor’

    ‘Adeboye prayed for me to become governor’

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom told worshippers at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway how he dropped out of school, became a motor park tout and now a governor.

    Ortom, sharing a testimony at a service, which climaxed the week-long 63rd annual convention of the RCCG, attributed his victory at the governorship election to the prayers of the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

    He said: “My name is Samuel Ortom. I’m from Benue Province 1 Mega Parish, Makurdi. My wife and I are workers in the church. My testimony is that in 1979, I dropped out of school in Form 2. But I met the All- Sufficient God and that was the turning point in my life.

    “Today, through tutorials and distance learning, I have a PhD. I started as a motor park tout. By the grace of God, I went through all kinds of leadership positions at the local government, state and federal levels. I was a minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and at a point, a supervising minister of Aviation. Today, through the prayers of Pastor Adeboye, I’m the Benue State governor.”

    The cleric said as at 6pm on Friday, expectant mothers had been delivered of 81 babies (41 boys and 40 girls)

  • ‘Ortom officially resigned from PDP’

    ‘Ortom officially resigned from PDP’

    Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Nzorov Ward of Benue State, Mr. Felix Agbaka, said yesterday at the election petition tribunal in Makurdi that Governor Samuel Ortom was qualified to contest the April 11 poll.

    This is contrary to claims by the PDP governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor that Ortom was not qualified because he did not resign his membership of the PDP.

    Agbaka and the present Nzorov Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adikpe Ukuremo Ezekiel, were led in evidence by the governor’s lead counsel, Israel Olorundare, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    They were subpoenaed by Ortom to appear before the three-man tribunal to prove that he validly left the PDP on December 9, last year and joined the APC on the same day.

    But before the duo were granted leave to give evidence, counsel to the petitioner, Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN, challenged the competence of the witnesses, because, according to him, a witness to be subpoenaed “must be one who is not an adverse witness.”

    The argument and counter- argument by the lawyers made the tribunal to adjourn for more than an hour.

    Adenipekun cited authorities in Lasun v Awoyemi, reported in 2011 All NWLR pt 577, page 713; Plan Iyange v Oyebola (2008) All NWLR pt 399, page 503; and Shittu v Alebe (2011) All NWLR pt 595 page 343, to substantiate his objections.

    The governor argued that once a witness was subpoenaed to produce documents, it was immaterial if those documents were listed for production or not.

    Counsel to Ortom, Olorundare (SAN), countered his learned colleague, citing Omidiran v Etteh (2011) 2NWLR Pt 1232 page 471 at 501; Onyedepelo v Nwaneri (2008) 2 PELR; and Famakinwa v UK (1992) Pt 253 at page 608 as authorities upon which the two witnesses subpoenaed should be admitted to give evidence and their documents admitted.

    When the tribunal resumed, the Chairman, Justice Elizabeth Karatu, agreed with the submission of the petitioner’s counsel, but overruled the petitioner in favour of the governor, saying for the sake of justice, the two should be allowed to give evidence.

    During cross-examination, the former PDP chairman in Nzorov Ward tendered Ortom’s resignation letter from the PDP, which he said he received on December 9, last year.

    Adikpe told the tribunal that he registered the governor on the same day he approached him and gave him a membership card with serial No: 381 and card number 04010423.

    When the PDP lawyer asked the APC chairman in Nzorov Ward, if it was right for him as the chairman, instead of the secretary, to register Ortom in accordance with the party’s constitution, he said: “Even if the secretary is to register anybody, he (the secretary) won’t register anybody without my consent. Besides, Ortom’s registration was done in the presence of the party executive in the ward.”

    Agbaka, during cross- examination, identified the membership card and the register containing the names of members of the party at the ward level, including that of the governor.

    He told the tribunal that considering the personality of Ortom, he wrote to the party’s local government chairman on January 15, informing him of what he described as ‘ a big catch’. He said he later took the register to the state secretariat.

    Agbaka identified the letter he wrote to the local government party chairman.

    The letter and other documents tendered were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits.

    The governor then closed his defence.

    Justice Karatu adjourned till today. Other respondents are expected to open their defence and call witnesses.

  • NGO wants Ortom to conduct staff audit of Benue workers

    NGO wants Ortom to conduct staff audit of Benue workers

    The chairman, Benue NGO Network, (BENGONET) Mr Justin Gbagir, has advised Gov. Samuel Ortom to conduct an audit of civil servants in Benue to weed out ghost workers and reduce monthly wage bill.

    Gbagir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Saturday in Makurdi that the current wage bill of N3.7 billion being incurred by the state was unacceptable.

    He said the audit would determine the actual staff strength of the state, saying that a lot of administrative lapses in the last regime in the state, might have been responsible for the huge amount.

    He commended Ortom for his management of the resources of the state, urging him to continue the good work.

    “What he (Ortom) has done shows an improvement over what we witnessed in the past eight years in this state.

    “It shows transparency and accountability on the part of the governor, but I want him to do more in all aspects of spending.

    “He should not rely on existing figures because they could be misleading, but carry out a staff audit of the workforce in the state,” he advised.

  • Governor Ortom explains increase in wage bills

    Governor Ortom explains increase in wage bills

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday, in Makurdi, explained that the resumption of payment of full salaries and overheads in the state are responsible for the increase.

    In a press release signed by his Special Adviser Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, the Governor stated that the payment of full salaries to the State civil servants and overheads are responsible for the increase in Benue wage bill.

    The statement reads: “A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), in Benue State, Mr. Godwin Ayihe, requested through newsmen, to know why the state wage bill has risen above N2.7 billion which he claimed the last administration used to pay. The answer is that there has been resumption of payment of full salaries and overheads in the state.

    “Hitherto, the past administration had effected deductions from salaries of civil servants for several months. Overheads were also not paid to ministries, departments and agencies for months. Governor Samuel Ortom commenced the payment of full payment of salaries and overheads in May. With these development it became impossible for the figure to remain at N2.7 billion.

    “Yet it will be recalled that the Governor had expressed discomfort with the current wage bill and directed a staff audit which is currently going on. We wish to assure the people of the state that their finances were in safe hands and would be deployed to judicious use” Mr. Agerzua stated.