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Tag: Ortom

  • Ortom: we have started puting smiles on peoples face

    Ortom: we have started puting smiles on peoples face

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday  said his administration had started putting smiles on the faces of the people of the state through the payment of full salaries.

    He spoke at two separate church services held at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Garki and Redeemed Christian Church of God, Games Village, in Abuja.

    The Governor stated that the God who helped him to overcome challenges in life and also made it possible for him to be elected Governor would also help him to surmount current challenges and usher in development.

    According to him, his administration had started putting smiles on faces by paying full May and June salaries for state government workers and that of May for local government staff and teachers.

    He stated that prior to his election, things had degenerated in the state to a level where people were paid quarter salaries which were not regular, adding that he was making efforts to pay up to date and also embark on the completion of abandoned projects.

    Ortom stated that Benue State indigenes and close watchers of events in the state have testified that his election came through divine intervention pointing out that the development had strengthened the faith of believers and encouraged unbelievers to seek God’s face. He said he had make a covenant with God and the people to govern with the fear of God and entrench core values including transparency, accountability, fairness, discipline, integration, reconciliation, peace and unity which according to him would make development inevitable.

  • Benue spends N10billion on salaries, grants, says Ortom

    Benue spends N10billion on salaries, grants, says Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said yesterday that the N10 billion recently borrowed by his administration was used to pay workers’ salaries, contrary to allegations by the opposition that he had misappropriated the money.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that  he had given details of how the  loan would be spent when he sought  the nod of the State House of Assembly to take it.

    According to him, “I said it was going to be used to pay two months salaries. On the average, we expend N3.7 billion on the payment of monthly salaries.

    ‘’The breakdown is as follows: wage bill is about N2.8 billion while the overhead per month across board runs to about N700million.  So if you take that for two months you will be spending about N7.4 billion or close to N7.5 billion on salaries alone thereby leaving a balance of about N2.5 billion out of the N10billion we borrowed.

    “Part of what I applied for the loan was to enable the Executive and the House of Assembly to take off. We needed to buy cars for 13 commissioners, 18 advisers, and assembly members including payment of allowances.’’

    He said that more than N3 billion had already been spent on the take off of the government including the legislature.

    The governor, who appealed for patience, added: “no kobo from that money has been misappropriated.”

    He said that the N2.7 billion which the state received from the LNG dividend was still intact, and part of it would be used to pay July salaries.

    “Benue State got N5billion from the LNG account but what actually came to the state was N2.7 billion because N2.3 billion went to the local government councils.

    “That money is still intact in our account. We are now waiting for July allocation and if nothing adds, we are expecting about N1.7 billion, which cannot pay our workers’ salaries, so we have to take from the LNG account to pay July salaries.”

    He said his administration was committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, and appealed to the people to offer advises and constructive criticisms that would ginger development.

    Ortom pledged to commit resources to upgrade facilities at the state school of Nursing and Midwifery to facilitate its accreditation for it to resume normal academic programmes.

    He said the school was crucial to his administration and would invest money for its upgrade.

    The governor, who lamented the poor state of facilities in government offices across the state, said his administration had a robust plan to upgrade all decaying infrastructure.

    Ortom accused political detractors of sponsoring falsehood against the government over the loan.

  • ‘Ortom’s arms recovery programmes ‘ll curb violence’

    ‘Ortom’s arms recovery programmes ‘ll curb violence’

    The United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has hailed the  illegal arms recovery initiative of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

    It said if the programme succeeds, it will reduce communal clashes, thereby reducing the number of internally displaced persons (IDPS) and refugees.

    The Country Representative of the commission, Mrs. Angelle Atangana, expressed the excitement yesterday when she visited the governor at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

    She said: “If the initiative succeeds it will curb the incidence of communal violence and reduce cases of internally displaced persons and refugees.”

    The representative hailed the people of Benue State for hosting refugees from Cameroon and taking care of them until they returned to their country.

    Mrs. Atangana told the governor that they built over 200 houses for the IDP’s in the state, provided relief materials to them along with victims of floods and sued for a more robust collaboration with the state government to achieve more.

    Governor Ortom expressed the commitment of his administration to sustain partnership with donor agencies and development partners.

    He stated that as a demonstration of this commitment, he included N5 billion in a supplementary budget he submitted to the House of Assembly for approval to enable him pay counterpart funding demanded by the partners.

    The governor restated the commitment of his administration to ensure peace and stability in the state and noted that it was in the light of this that he granted amnesty to those willing to submit illegal arms as well as held meetings with relevant security operatives, among others.

    According to him, at the end of the expiration of the amnesty on August 31, security agents would go after those who possess illegal arms and recover them.

    Ortom, who acknowledged efforts by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to provide shelter and relief materials for internally displaced persons, praised the commission for the assistance and assured that government would collaborate with the commission to implement more of its programmes.

  • Lobi Stars dedicate win to Gov. Ortom

    Lobi Stars dedicate win to Gov. Ortom

    The Management of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi have dedicated their Federation Cup win over Remo Stars to the Benue State Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom.

    Lobi Stars overcame Remo Stars on 5-4 penalties at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba after the regulation time ended 1-1 apiece.

    Remo Stars shot into the lead in the first half before Lobi managed to stretch the ball to penalties after Farouk Umar found the back of the net for the Pride of Benue.

    The club’s Team Manager, Banabas Imenger said the club dedicated the win to governor for his support to the team and steps he has taken to transform the Pride of Benue.

     The ex-international admitted that experience played important role in their win over Remo Stars.

    “We played very well and the victory is for our governor for his support to the team. The boys played with full determination and our experience played important role in the game. We will work very hard to win the cup for the governor,” Imenger told SportingLife.

  • Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Ortom to seize illegal arms in Benue after amnesty

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has vowed to seize all illegal  arms in the state after the expiration of the amnesty period. He urged  those in possession of arms to return them.

    The Governor also condemned the  murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Atoza Hindan  and others in Katsina-Ala,  saying government would support security agencies in apprehending the killers.

    He made the condemnation in Gbajimba, his home town, in Guma Local Government Area, while addressing a large crowd that came  to celebrate the Sallah with him.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his resolve to seize all illegal arms in the state using the carrot and stick approach, adding that when the amnesty programme ends in  August,  security agents would begin to track and arrest possessors of such weapons.

    He described the assassination of Chief Hindan and others by hoodlums as unwarranted, despicable,  and unacceptable, pledging  that the culprits would be arrested and punished.

    He commisserated with victims’ families for losing loved ones and prayed that God would comfort them.

    The Governor enjoined the people to eschew crime and conflict with Fulani herdsmen,  promising to collaborate with security agents to apprehend criminals from among farmers and herders who instigate crisis.

    According to him, the establishment of ranches remained the permanent solution to farmers, herders’ conflict, noting that in the interim, the two parties must continue to dialogue and seek legal  means to end the conflict.

    He said he had started confronting the challenges of the state by paying full salaries, assuring that things would improve and his administration would be able to pay arrears and provide critical infrastructure.

    The Governor said the construction of the Daudu-Gbajimba road has been included in the supplementary budget being forwarded to the State House of Assembly, adding that, work would commence as soon as it is passed.

    He lamented the drop in enrolment into schools in the area and appealed to the people to take education serious as it remained the bedrock of a better future.

    In the same vein, the governor faulted a statement  credited to the former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav accusing Ortom of paying lip service to matters of security.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua described Tsav’s claim as “baseless and mischievous”.

    “The true situation on ground is the opposite of what Alhaji Tsav is said to have stated in the report. Since assumption of office Governor Ortom has made security one of his topmost priorities.

    “He has engaged with traditional rulers, the Joint Civilian Task Force, the Inspector General of Police, the association of cattle owners, as well as other security agencies on the matter.

    “The governor has been in regular touch with the state police commissioner, the director of the state security services and all heads of military and paramilitary formations in the state.

    “At his inauguration he announced an amnesty program for possessors of illegal arms in the state and gave them till the end of August, 2015 to surrender the arms or face arrest and confiscation. The carrot and stick approach has started yielding results as some have started turning in their arms as was displayed in the Benue Peoples House last week.

    “His efforts also averted reprisals in Zaki-Biam where a soldier and policeman were killed and led to the release of several persons who were kidnapped in other parts of the state. Governor Ortom’s constant advocacy on this matter has received wide media coverage.

    “He followed this up with the appointment of a security adviser and senior special assistant on security to handle security challenges in partnership with the formal and informal security network. Governor Ortom took above measures within his one and half month in office.

    “It might be necessary to remind the septuagenarian that the security challenges, especially murders, predate the Ortom administration and yet he did not raise his voice against the immediate past governor.

    “He was silent even when residents of Makurdi where he resides, including the late Gwa Jande of the Benue State University and Pastor Adoor of the Ministry of Land and Survey were assassinated.

    “One had thought that as a former security operative with his credentials and experience he could offer suggestions on how to curb crime in the state rather than making inciting and baseless statements.

    “The former police commissioner has been most unfair to Governor Ortom if indeed he made the comments attributed to him in the said newspaper,” Agerzua added.

  • Dankwambo, Ambode, Ahmed, Ortom, Oshiomhole, Amosun, others preach peace, patriotism

    Dankwambo, Ambode, Ahmed, Ortom, Oshiomhole, Amosun, others preach peace, patriotism

    GOVERNORS have implored religious, traditional and community leaders as well as their followers to pray for sustainable peace as Muslim end Ramadan fast.

    They urged the citizens to be patriotic and live in peace, irrespective of their religious or ethnic differences.

    Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, in his goodwill message as part of the celebration, said Nigerians should imbibe tolerance and mutual respect for one another to attain “sustainable peace, which is a catalyst for the development of our dear state and country”.

    “As we are aware, no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony. We should, therefore, be tolerant with each other and encourage peaceful coexistence among our diverse people,” he added.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, urged the citizens to rededicate themselves to the cause of a peaceful and prosperous Lagos, where residents, regardless of ethnic, religious or social status, can prosper.

    The governor, in the Eid-el-Fitri message, said it was only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians could put the country back on its leadership pedestal.

    He urged them to embrace the tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood, which characterised the period of the holy month.

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom felicitated with the state Muslim Community on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-fitr celebration.

    He rejoiced over the peaceful co-existence between adherents of the various faith – in the state, especially in the spirit of this year’s joint breaking of fast between Christians and Muslims.

    The governor, however, regretted his inability to extend the usual courtesies due for such seasons on account of dwindling finances of the state.

    He promised to meet such obligations when the financial fortunes of the state improve.

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan, especially the values of good neghbourliness, patriotism and respect for the sanctity of human life.

    Ahmed, in an Eid-el-Fitri message by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, identified greed and selfishness as causes of Nigeria’s socio-political, economic and security problems.

    He emphasised that if Nigerians demonstrate the kind of compassion and love for one another as displayed during Ramadan, Nigeria would surmount its numerous challenges and become a role model to other nations.

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose urged Muslims to rededicate themselves to the service of their country as they mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitri.

    The governor, in his Sallah message, enjoined Nigerians not to lose sight of the gains and lessons of the Ramadan fasting as they go about their daily activities.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole asked Muslims to exhibit the true spirit of peace and love in their daily dealings with men of all faith, saying Islam as a religion of peace abhors violence in whatever guise.

    The governor, who congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the success of this year’s Ramadan, urged them to inculcate the lessons learnt during the Ramadan fast to positively impact on their neighbours and the society.

    To Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the nation will overcome its challenges and emerge a strong, united and prosperous nation.

    In a message by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor stated that “the attributes of self-discipline, compassion, brotherliness and patriotism exhibited during the holy month of Ramadan, if sustained, we will attain the dreams of our founding fathers for a united and prosperous nation.”

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko hailed the people of the state for embracing the Residency Card initiative.

    Besides, he admonished Muslims not to return to habits they dropped  before  the Rammadan.

     The governor called on Muslims  to sustain the lessons of  Ramadan by allowing the “God-like characters they lived all through the period of the Ramamdan to become a way of life for them”.

  • Ortom moves against criminals

    Ortom moves against criminals

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has vowed to rid the state of armed robbers and kidnappers.

    He made the disclosure when the Executive committee of the socio-cultural organisation, Mdzough U Tiv, visited him at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

    The governor said such criminal elements posed a serious threat to residents and investment in the state since no investor was willing to invest in an insecure environment.

    He said he was collaborating with traditional rulers, youths, as well as the Civilian Joint Task Force to rout the criminals.

    According to him he was happy that peace building efforts between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen had started yielding results with the two groups signing a peace accord in Logo local government area after which they play a football game.

    Ortom appealed to citizens to forgive and reconcile with one another so as to create what he described as a new Benue.

    The Governor urged leaders of the group to shun partisan politics and promote unity of all Tiv people irrespective of political and religious affiliation.

    President General of the organisation, Chief Engr. Edward Ujege urged the governor to consolidate on peace building efforts between farmers and herdsmen started by the previous administration, the teaching of Tiv language in schools and support for Tiv Day.

  • Ortom urges farmers on soya beans

    Ortom urges farmers on soya beans

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday urged farmers to cultivate soya beans.

    The governor, who spoke at the inauguration of Seraph Oil Mill, Makurdi, advised investors to take a cue from the initiative to boost the economy.

    He said he was impressed that the factory had positioned itself to play a role in the realisation of his administration’s dream.

    Ortom noted that through processing, the factory could add value to the primary products, boost the economic fortunes of farmers and generate employment, wealth and opportunities.

    He enjoined farmers to increase the production of soya beans to ensure adequate supply to the mill and others.

    According to him, the company was one of those that demonstrated faith and willingness that Benue remained the food basket of the nation.

    The governor promised that his administration would create an enabling environment for the private sector to drive the economy.

    He said through the development, internally- generated revenue would be improved to assist the government in paying salaries and meeting other obligations.

    The Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya, said the inauguration would inspire investments in value-added agro processing to take advantage of the raw materials.

  • PDP chair: Ortom is still our member

    •APC spokesman: you’re yet to recover from defeat

    Benue State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Samuel Agbo has said Governor Samuel Ortom is still a member of the party, according to party  guidelines.

    Addressing the first news conference since the party lost the governorship and presidential elections, Dr. Agbo, who was with the Deputy Chairman, Zone B, Godwin Ayihe, Secretary, Bem Dzoho and Deputy Chairman, Zone A, Alhaji Ibrahim Anor, said Ortom, who served the party as secretary, deputy chairman, national auditor and minister was supposed to tender his letter of resignation to the national secretariat in Abuja, instead of the ward chairman.

    He said going by the PDP constitution, “the governor is still our member.”

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tahav Agerzua, said PDP’s statement was an indication that the party had not recovered from the trauma of defeat in the last elections.

    Said he: “The trauma has affected the chairman’s memory, reasoning and logic. Otherwise, how can he claim that Governor Ortom is still a member of his party when the Federal High Court in Makurdi dismissed the PDP case, which sought to establish that claim?

    “Before the court decision, Governor Ortom resigned from the PDP on December 9 last year and handed over his resignation letter to the PDP Ward chairman at Nzorov Ward of Guma Local Government, Felix Agbaka.

    “How can Dr. Agbo forget so soon that the people came out in April with a determination to throw away the yoke of a party that brought them untold hardship and bad governance, which led to the collapse of government institutions?

    “How can he forget so soon that the electorate were against the PDP that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not need to rig anywhere, but just to protect the votes of its candidates?

    “Rather, it was the PDP that engaged in massive rigging in many parts of the state.

    “It beats one’s imagination that someone can be talking about constitutional provisions, yet he forgets or glosses over one of the most fundamental, which is the freedom of association.

    “Maybe the PDP runs a prison and its officials have to shout of a jailbreak anytime a member leaves.

    “Besides, the responsibility of interpreting the constitution is that of the courts of law and not that of an interested party, who is both a complainant and a judge in his own matter.

    “Agbo’s statement amounts to a tantrum of a bad loser yet to recover from the trauma of a defeat.”

  • Make quality legislations, Ortom tells lawmakers

    Make quality legislations, Ortom tells lawmakers

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has charged the National Assembly to enact quality legislation that would enhance good governance in the country.

    He gave the charge when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara paid him a courtesy call at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

    Governor Ortom listed critical areas of immediate concern as corruption, power supply and security stressing that if legislation is targeted at these areas and enforced the nation would make a quantum leap forward.

    He appealed to the Speaker to put the intrigues that led to his emergence behind him and build bridges between the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its members.

    Governor Ortom described Rt. Hon Iorwase Hembe, member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency who led the delegation to see him as a worthy ambassador of the state who had the vision to identify and invest in the leadership qualities of the Speaker.

    The Governor  described Rt. Hon Dogara as a humble man and urged him to sustain the virtue in his relationship with members.

    Earlier the Speaker had appealed to the Governor to invest in building people as that was the most lasting legacy that a leader could leave behind.

    He expressed appreciation to Ortom for his support and that of the members of the House from the state which he said contributed to his emergence as Speaker and urged the Governor to put landmark development projects on ground in line with the APC manifesto so that friends and well wishers could come to Benue State to celebrate with him.

    Rt. Hon Dogara urged leaders of the party to put the eschew the current bickering and hit the ground running in the provision of democracy dividends to the electorate who voted for change.

    On the other hand, the Benue State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a group of Chinese companies under the auspices of CGC Alliance for industrial and commercial revitalization of the state.

    Areas of focus include coal power plant, potable water and irrigation, renovation of agriculture service centers, construction of Makurdi-Guma road, and reticulation of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala.

    Others are airport and industrial park construction, sugar cane plantation and refineries.

    Governor Samuel Ortom signed on behalf of the state government in his office in the Benue Peoples House while Managing Director of the Group, Tony Ye signed on behalf of the companies.

    Governor Ortom expressed confidence in the ability of the group to deliver as it had successfully constructed the Otobi and Katsina-Ala water works.

    He said although the state owed CGC large amounts of money on the two projects he appealed for understanding while assuring that his administration would do its best to honour contractual agreements.

    Managing Director of the group, Mr Ye stated that various companies have teamed up under the alliance in order to handle all infrastructural projects in the state if given the opportunity and expressed appreciation to the Ortom administration for inviting them to partner in the development of the state.

    In another development, Governor Ortom has appealed to the Bill Gates Foundation to consider the whole value chain in its approach to promote the cultivation of cassava and rice in the state.

    He made the appeal when he received a delegation from Synergos Institute led by Adewale Adewale Ajabi on behalf of the foundation.

    The Governor who expressed the willingness of the state to partner with viable investors and create the enabling environment of investments to thrive pointed out that unless attention was given to the whole value chain the cassava produced would be wasted at the end of the day.

    Mr. Ajabi had disclosed that the foundation was willing to collaborate with the state government to assist in cassava and rice processing.

    He said the objective was to assist farmer to get value for their produce and to boost the economy of the state.

    Governor Ortom also received a delegation from the Mutual Union of Tiv in America, MUTA, who were in the state for a health fair.

    He assured Mr Doo Gar and Mrs Tivzenda who visited that although things were difficult the state would give assistance to the team.