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Tag: Ortom

  • Benue has not known peace since January, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said the state has not known peace since January.

    According to him, the people have not known peace due to the activities of militia herdsmen.

    The governor spoke yesterday at a cocktail party organised to honour delegates and stakeholders attending the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) Rally and Conference holding in Makurdi, the capital.

    Ortom, who lamented the continued killing and displacement of thousands from their ancestral homes by herdsmen, said he would continue to speak out and stand with his people until justice is ensured.

    He lauded the Federal Government for its renewed efforts in curtailing the attacks through operation Whirl Stroke, stressing that if the operation had started earlier, Benue wouldn’t have been where it is today.

    The governor also thanked his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishaku, and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), for standing with Benue in her trying times, saying he was strengthened by their actions.

    Ishaku said he Ortom passed through the eye of a needle to become governor and were further bonded together by the similar challenges they were facing.

    He said Nigeria’s constitution is defective because it has rendered governors incapacitated and ‘toothless maimed dogs’ by making them Chief Security Officers who cannot command the security architecture in their states.

    Ishaku, who called for the restructuring of Nigeria, said there is something more than herdsmen behind the killings in the country, adding that if the Federal Government had wanted to solve the problem, it would take less than two months to achieve that.

    National President of the MBF Bitrus Poga urged Benue people to be proud of Ortom, saying it takes courage to do what the governor was doing.

    According to him, the governor’s bravery was equal to none and should be encouraged to continue to speak for the less privileged in the country.

  • APC summons feuding Ortom, Akume

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has summoned Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and his political godfather Senatr George Akume to Abuja.

    This followed yesterday’s statement by the governor that he had been shut out of the party. He hinted of his plan to defect from the party.

    Sources said last night that Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shu’aibu, invited them for the meeting in Abuja.

    Ortom said the APC gave him a red card.

    Speaking at the Government House in Makurdi while swearing-in the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Jerome, Tor Shine.

    Ortom, who is believed to be heading to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “APC has given me red card, they shut me outside; I’m now party less but may soon decide my next journey.”

    But a party member, who pleaded for anonymity, said Ortom is already a member of the PDP.

    He advised the governor to tell his followers the truth about his decision.

    But National Chairman of the APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole dismissed reports of Ortom’s exit, saying the party did not shut its doors on any governor elected on its platform.

    Oshiomhole, who addressed reporters after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), said the governor assured him severally that he will not leave the party.

    He noted that if Ortom has actually left, the party will need to study the situation before formally reacting to it.

    “Governor Ortom is a very senior member of the party and he has said so repeatedly in print, and even told me that he will not leave the APC unless he was pushed out.

    “I have since assumed chairmanship of this party along with my colleagues in the NWC and I know of a fact that we have not shut out any governor and certainly not governor Ortom.”

  • Ortom, Ishaku call for restructuring

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, his Taraba State counterpart Dairus Ishaku, and leaders of the Middle Belt have called for the immediate restructuring of Nigeria.

    They spoke at a rally in Makurdi, Benue State capital, organised by the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), in conjunction with J.S. Tarkaa Foundation. The theme was “Restructuring Nigeria and Re-awakening, the position of Middle Belt”.

    It was attended by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, which also supported restructuring, saying the present structure could not be sustained.

    Among Middle Belt leaders present were Dr. Bitrus Pago; Air Commodore Dan Suleiman; Prof. Jerry Gana and Dr. Obadia Mailafia, who decried the killings  and called for an end.

    MBF’s legal adviser Mike Zeko called for restructuring and the creation of two more regions from the present region.

    Zeko called for three vice presidents, saying the 2014 National Conference should be adopted as it addressed national issues.

  • APC has given me red card, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has said that he has been given a red card by the All Progressive Congress ( APC)

    The governor spoke at Government House Makurdi on Monday while swearing -in the new Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jerome Tor Shine.

    The former Adviser was sacked last week in a new political realignment move.

    Governor Ortom who was elected on the platform of APC is now believed to be heading to the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), which is in alliance with Social Democratic Party( SDP)

    ” APC has given me red card, they shut me outside ,I’m now party less ,but may soon decide my next journey ” Ortom said.

    Read Also: I’m still a member of APC – Ortom

    But speaking with The Nation on phone, a member of APC who pleaded anonymity said the governor is already a member of PDP.

    He advised the governor to tell his followers the truth about his new political party.

    Curiously, Governor Ortom’s posters bearing APC flooded Wurkukum roundabout in Makurdi .

    Many residents who saw the posters pasted round the busy roundabout gathered to discuss the issue of the party the governor now belongs.

  • I have no plan to leave APC -Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom has denied media reports that he plans to defect back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    There has been rumour that he had concluded plans to leave the APC to pursue his second term governorship ambition on the platform of another party.

    But speaking to newsmen in the Government House, Makurdi, Ortom denied the media report, saying the dissolution of his cabinet is a continuous exercise to inject fresh people with new ideas.

    He added that the rumour that the exercise was targeted at particular persons was unfounded since even his closest aides have been removed from office.

    In a related development, the coordinator of “I stand with Ortom” group, Comrade Dan Nyikwagh, has commended Ortom for partially reshuffling his cabinet. He advised the governor to inject competent hands to help drive his vision for the development of Benue State.

  • Ortom: I’m still a member of APC

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has denied reports that he plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    There have been rumours that Ortom is leaving the APC to pursue his second term governorship ambition on the platform of another party.

    But Ortom, who addressed reporters in the Government House in Makurdi, denied the reports.

    The governor, who debunked rumours that dissolution of the state executive council was targeted at particular persons, said it is a continuous exercise to inject new people with new ideas into the system.

    According to him, even his closest aides were affected.

  • ‘Ortom has not asked us to forfeit salary arrears’

    •Governor dissolves exco

    Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State, Comrade Aayan Godwin, has dismissed reports that Governor Samuel Ortom asked workers to forfeit their one-year salary arrears.

    Comrade Godwin told The Nation in a telephone interview that the government, either directly or indirectly, has not made such a request to the knowledge of the labour movement. He added that even if such a request was made, nobody would honour it.

    He, however, said the government owed workers between six and eleven for 2017, depending on the category of worker.

    The government has been paying promptly since January 2018.

    Godwin said: “There is nothing like that. What happened is that there was verification and the deputy governor headed the team conducting it.

    “At the end of the verification, there were some issues – there were many ghost workers and dead retirees on the salary list and the governor needed to implement the report. By that exercise, the wage bill was reduced.

    “The governor started implementing the report in January. Nobody has forfeited any salary; we are still discussing with him concerning the 2017 arrears.

    “Who is that person who will ask workers to forfeit their one-year? The governor has not even requested for that and even if he had done that, nobody will listen.

    “He started paying from January and is up to date on that. What is left is the arrears and we have met with him on that. We will meet with him again at the level of State Executive Council of the NLC so that he will address us on efforts he is making to clear the arrears.

    “At the state level, workers were paid last in June 2017, and the arrears are from July to December 2017, which is six months. For local government workers, he paid up to February 2017 and owes ten months, while for teachers, he paid last in January 2017 and owes them eleven months’. That is what he owes workers.”

    Governor Ortom has dissolved his executive council.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tony Ijoho (SAN), directed  commissioners and Special Adviser affected by the dissolution to hand over to the next senior person in their offices.

    No reason was given for the dissolution but there have been rumours that Ortom and leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state are at logger heads.

    It was gathered that there is an attempt to deny Ortom the governorship ticket for a second term.

    Four commissioners – Mike Gusah (AG); Dennis Ityavyar (Education); Bernard Unenge (Lands) and David Olufo (Finance); and six Special Advisers, were retained.

  • ‘Ortom didn’t ask us to forfeit salary arrears’

    •Governor partially dissolves exco

    Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State, Comrade Aayan Godwin, has dismissed reports that Governor Samuel Ortom asked workers to forfeit their one-year salary arrears.

    Comrade Godwin told The Nation that the government, either directly or indirectly, has not made such a request to the knowledge of the labour movement. And even if such a request was made, nobody would honour it, he added.

    He, however, said the government owed workers between six and eleven months’ for 2017, depending on the category of worker.

    The government has been paying promptly since January 2018.

    Godwin said: “There is nothing like that. What happened is that there was verification and the deputy governor headed the team conducting it.

    “At the end of the verification, there were some issues – there were many ghost workers and dead retirees and the governor needed to correct the anomaly. By that exercise, the wage bill was reduced.

    “The governor started implementing the report in January. Nobody has forfeited any salary; we are still discussing with him concerning the 2017 arrears.

    “Who is that person who will ask workers to forfeit their one-year? The governor has not even requested for that and even if he had done that, nobody will listen.

    “He started paying from January and is up to date on that. What is left is the arrears and we have met with him on that. We will meet with him again at the level of State Executive Council of the NLC so that he will address us on efforts he is making to clear the arrears.

    “At the state level, workers were paid last in June 2017, and the arrears are from July to December 2017, which is six months. For local government workers, he paid up to February 2017 and owes ten months, while for teachers, he paid last in January 2017 and owes them eleven months’. That is what he owes workers.”

    Ortom yesterday  approved a partial dissolution of the State Executive Council.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Ijoho ( SAN), said four commissioners –  Michael Gusa (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice);  Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Commissioner for Education Science and Technology); David Olufu (Commissioner for Finance); Bernard Unenge (Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals) – retained their portfolios.

    Seven Special Advisers – Dr Magdalyne Dura (Development Cooperation, SDGs and NEPAD);  Matthew Mnyam (Education);  Chief Ode Enyi (Gender, Employment and Labour Matters); Thomas Anajav (Government House Administration); Tahav Agerzua (Media, Information and Technology); Lt.- Col. Paul Hemba (rtd) ( Security) and Joseph Odaudu (Special Duties) – also retained their portfolios.

    The statement said: “The partial dissolution of the council takes immediate effect and the outgoing members of council are to handover to their permanent secretaries or most senior director as the case may be.

    “The governor thanks the outgoing members of the executive council for their service to the state and wishes them well in their future endeavours.”

     

  • Ortom dissolves cabinet

    Governor Samuel Ortom has announced the dissolution of Benue State Executive Council ( SEC).

    A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) Tony Ijoho SAN, directed  commissioners  and Special Adviser affected by the dissolution to hand over to the next senior person in their offices .

    No reason is given for the dissolution, but there had been rumours for about two weeks that Governor Ortom and the leader of All Progressive Congress ( APC) in the state are at logger heads .

    The Nation gathered that there is an attempt to deny Governor Ortom second term governorship ticket in APC.

    The Governor however retained four (4) commissioners and six (6) Special Advisers .

    Commissioners retained are Mike  Gusah( AG) ,Dennis Ityavyar( Education), Bernard Unenge ( Lands ) and David Olufo( Finance ).

    There is disquiet in the state following the announcement of the dissolution.

  • Ortom, Abounu get LG campaign committees

    Prominent members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who support the re-election of Governor Samuel Ortom and his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu, yesterday constituted local government campaign committees across the 23 council areas of the state simultaneously.

    The committees, which have been tagged Ortom/Abouno Support Movement 2019, were constituted at the ward level in the 276 wards of Benue State two weeks ago.

    40 ward delegates made up 35 members of the ward campaign team with five major stakeholders as well as political appointees of the governor from the councils constituted the electoral college that chose the local government campaign officials.

    They comprise 30 members headed by a Local Government Cordinator who is supported by a deputy and several other positions, including Treasurer, Secretary, Organizing Secretary, Financial Secretary, Legal Adviser, Public Relations Officer, Special Leader, Women and Youth Leaders who all have deputies.

    Other positions are those of Welfare Secretary, and six ex-officio members.

    Team leaders, who supervised the proceedings, stated that youth and women wings would be inaugurated for the two groups at the ward and local government levels at a later date in the near future.

    In constituting the committees, the stakeholders took into consideration appropriate zoning of the positions as well as fair representation of all sections of the respective local governments, interests and the various groups, including the disabled.

    The objective of the committees is to canvass grassroots support for the re-election of Governor Ortom and his deputy, Engr Abounu, next year.

    It is expected that the state committee will be constituted soon.