The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Air Force chief orders more drugs for Benue flood victims

    Air Force chief orders more drugs for Benue flood victims

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has directed the Medical Branch of the Nigerian Air Force to deploy more medical personnel and drugs to Makurdi, Benue state for the treatment of victims of the flood disaster that swept across the state recently.
    Air Marshal Abubakar said the instruction was necessitated by the urgent need to complement the efforts of the Tactical Air Command (TAC), Nigerian Air Force, Makurdi, which had commence free medical services to the flood victims.
    A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, noted that Benue state Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, had sent a message of commendation to the NAF authority for promptly responding to the needs of the people.
    Commodore Adesanya said: “The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal MA Idris today flagged off a medical assistance programme to meet the medical needs of the recent flood victims in Makurdi, Benue State.
    “The AOC TAC said the commencement of the medical outpost programme was part of the Command’s corporate social responsibility and was borne out of the desire to contribute to the medical needs of the flood victims.
    “He further said that the NAF would be offering the medical treatment to the flood victims free of charge. In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Chief (Dr) Samuel Ortom, thanked the NAF for its assistance.
    “A few days ago, following a downpour, many houses in Makurdi were submerged in flood water. The persons affected by the flood were rendered homeless and several medical casualties were recorded.
    “Thousands of victims of the flood were accommodated at the Makurdi International Market, where the NAF medical outpost programme kicked off today.
    “The NAF also recently airlifted the Director General of the National Emergency Management Authority and other officials to Makurdi in response to a Presidential directive.
    “Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed the Medical Services Branch of the NAF to provide more drugs and deploy more medical personnel to complement the efforts of the Command, as might be required”.
  • Labour rejects Ortom’s appeal, begins warning strike Sept. 5

    Labour rejects Ortom’s appeal, begins warning strike Sept. 5

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Benue have rejected Gov. Samuel Ortom’s appeal against a one-week warning strike proposed to start Sept. 5.

    The warning strike is the first step by the workers who have declared a labour dispute with the state government over the non-payment of salaries.

    The workers, in a communique jointly signed by the NLC Chairman, Mr Godwin Anya and his TUC counterpart, Mr Ordue Tartenger, declared that the governor’s appeal was “unacceptable”.

    “His appeal is predicated on the prevailing economic situation, but the state has not stopped receiving statutory allocations from the federation account. This is besides Internally Generated Revenue and other revenue receipts from the federal government.

    “He appealed for understanding without any offer; other allocations from the federal government and other revenue sources are still available to government.

    “Supplementary support keeps coming from the Federal Government under various subheads – bailout, stabilization, Paris Club refunds, among others,” the workers said.

    The unions, therefore, declared Tuesday, September 5 – Wednesday, September 13 for the strike, and advised government to implement the state of emergency it declared on payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions.

    Reacting, Special Adviser to Ortom on Media and ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, said that the governor “placed all the cards on the table before the labour leaders”.

    He opined that the strike was not the solution because it would not bring the money needed to pay the salaries and arrears being demanded.

    NAN reports that the Benue workers are owed eight months salaries, with Ortom saying that N40 billion was required to settle them. (NAN)

  • Benue: Herdsmen, others endorse November deadline for anti-gazing law

    Benue: Herdsmen, others endorse November deadline for anti-gazing law

    Stakeholders in Benue on Monday agreed to begin the implementation of the 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law in November.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law, which was signed by Gov. Samuel Ortom in June, gave herdsmen a deadline of October to end open grazing and replace same with ranching from Nov. 1.

    The stakeholders formally endorsed the deadline at the expanded State Security Council meeting held at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

    The stakeholders advised government to step up enlightenment ahead of the deadline, in view of the importance of the law.

    They also agreed that the law was not targeted at any tribe or group of persons, and urged all Benue residents to support it.

    NAN quotes Ortom as explaining that the expanded security meeting was to enlighten all stakeholders about the law and how it would be implemented.

    Ortom further said that ranching was the best system of cattle rearing the world over, stressing that his administration was willing to support herdsmen or people willing to stay in Benue and ranch their cows.

    He denied reports that government had given quit notice to herdsmen in Benue, explaining that they were free to remain in Benue “so long as they obey the law”.

    “The law does not provide that herdsmen should leave Benue; it only encourages herdsmen and any other individual, who wishes to rear livestock, to do so within ranches so as to minimise clashes between herdsmen and farmers.”

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs, commended the government for the steps so far taken toward implementing the law.

    Ayatse, who was represented by Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, urged herdsmen to embrace change as ranching was the best option worldwide.

    In his remarks, the Benue Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alhaji Garus Gololo, said that his members were law-abiding citizens ready to support the anti-open grazing law.

    Gololo said that his association was not behind the suit against the Benue Government over the law, explaining that Miyetti Allah Kautal Kohe leadership were behind the court action.

  • Ortom to security agents: Fish out my aide’s killers

    Ortom to security agents: Fish out my aide’s killers

    The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Monday asked security agencies to fish out the killers of his Principal Special Assistant on Knowledge Economy and Investment, Dr. Tavershima Adyorough.

    He vowed to stop assassination of innocent citizens in the state.

    The governor, however, denied claim that the state government has directed Fulani herdsmen to leave the state.

    He also asked those calling for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari to go for medical checks.

    Ortom, who spoke with journalists in Abuja shortly after returning from an investment drive to China, said he was saddened by the assassination of his aide.

    The brutal killing of Adyorough was the fourth of such incident since Ortom became the governor of Benue State.

    He said: “My aide was killed, I feel so sad. While I was away, I received the sad news about the brutal assassination of my personal aide, someone who was very close to me, Dr. Tavershima Adyorough. He worked with me while I served the National Assembly and as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was my assistant and then I found him worthy when I won election. He became my Principal Special Assistant on Knowledge Economy and Investment.

    “He was knowledgeable and well learned and for him to have been assassinated at this time in the history of state and country where we need people with broad knowledge to support us to succeed in our hard times, some people came to assassinate him.  I feel very sad and this is something I am not going to take likely.

    “I have already spoken with security agencies; as a law-abiding man, they go out and fish out the killers because this cannot be allowed to continue.

    “Wasting lives,  someone who is well trained in his field and has been doing very well, for him to be terminated at this particular time, I feel it is something that we are going to fight to make sure it does not continue and I believe the security men are going to do justice to this brutal killing.”

    The governor said he never gave herdsmen any ultimatum to leave the state because of the enactment of Grazing Bill.

    He said the “so-called” ultimatum was the handwork of opposition in the state to destabilize his administration.

    He added:  “Nigerians and herdsmen and all well-meaning Nigerians who wish Nigeria well should disregard that threat. It is coming from the opposition party and it is meant to destabilize my government. There is no basis for that ultimatum whatsoever.

    “There is no reason for some youths to come together to say they are giving ultimatum. We are law-abiding state, when we were faced with this issue of herdsmen, what we did was to do the right and needful thing by ensuring that we go through due process and put a law in place and that we have successfully done. But the law is not meant to give ultimatum to Fulani men to leave the state or any man breeding cattle or livestock in general to leave the state.

    “Everybody is free irrespective of your tribe, you are free to do livestock business. What is required today is to ranch and that is what we are saying.”

     

  • Yari, Ajimobi, Shettima, two PDP governors to visit Buhari in London

    Yari, Ajimobi, Shettima, two PDP governors to visit Buhari in London

    The Presidency said on Tuesday that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) would officially send another delegation to visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    Buhari left Nigeria on May 7 for follow -up consultation with his doctors in the United Kingdom.

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, led some governors and leaders of the party to visit Buhari in London on Sunday.

    Briefing State House correspondents in Abuja, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said the new delegation that would meet President Buhari on Wednesday afternoon would include governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    They were accompanied to the briefing by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande.

    Adesina said: “We want to thank you for your cooperation thus far and how you have treated the presidency. You know that on Sunday there was a major development about the health of Mr. President in which we had pictures from London and details from one of those who saw him, the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

    “There is a follow up to that and you will get to hear in a few minutes. I know you have probably read that there is going to be another delegation visiting him. Malam Garba Shehu will brief you on who and who is on the delegation.”

    Shehu said: “The delegation is being led by the governor of Zamfara State, who is the chairman of the governors’ forum.

    “Those in the delegation are – governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Umar Gandoje (Kano), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

    “They will leave by tonight and arrive the UK early and will have 3:00 p.m. meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).”

    On why the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who has been vocal on the issue, was not part of the delegation, Adesina replied: “The selection was by the governors’ forum and you will see that the delegation is headed by governor Yari who is chairman of that forum. So that question should go to the forum.”

     

  • Ortom to resolve dispute with Benue varsity lecturers

    Ortom to resolve dispute with Benue varsity lecturers

    Students of the Benue State University, Makurdi on Wednesday begged Governor Samuel Ortom to resolve his dispute with their striking lecturers so that they would return to class.

    Mr. Tersoo Dooga, President of the varsity’s Students Union Government, who led members of the executive council on a visit to the governor, urged Ortom to negotiate with the lecturers “in the interest of the students”.

    “The strike has a negative effect on the students, their parents, guardians and the institution.

    “The strike will also affect the quality of education and frustrate the students as their graduation will be delayed,” he said.

    In his response, Ortom said that government had taken steps to tackle the complaints of the lecturers, and assured the students that the strike would soon be called off.

    He cautioned students against being used as thugs by desperate people, saying that his government had eliminated the vice from Benue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecturers had been on strike for more than two months over government’s reluctance to incorporate them into the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    The lecturers also want government to incorporate them into the contributory pension scheme and pay the arrears of their earned allowance from 2009 to 2016.

  • Ortom warns against breach of anti-open grazing law

    Ortom warns against breach of anti-open grazing law

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, on Monday, warned that any herdsman, who decided to breach the anti-open grazing law would have to face the wrath of the law.

    Ortom gave this warning in Makurdi while addressing members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim community, who were protesting the threats issued by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association against the new law.

    The governor said that the security agencies were ever ready to arrest anybody or group of persons that decided to resist the implementation of the law.

    According to the governor, the law will be enforced fully in November after the grace period of transition which is to end in October.

    Ortom said that any herdsman, who was not comfortable with the law was free to leave the state and settle where open grazing of animals was not prohibited.

    He further warned that anybody rearing livestock must put them in ranches, adding that the law was meant to protect both the farmers and animals.

    The governor explained that ranching was not only meant for cattle but all livestocks in order to prevent them from wandering into farmlands.

    Earlier, the CAN chairman in Benue, Rev. Akpen Leva, said the herdsmen had co-existed with the Benue people harmoniously for decades and wondered why they had now resorted to the violation of the people’s rights.

    Leva said that the law was not to undermine the economic or social interest of the herdsmen or any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

    “The provision of the law for the establishment of ranches is to conform to global best practices for the management of livestock, which is also in the interest of the herdsmen.

    “The anti-open grazing law is the most civilised and best option to resolve this perennial problem between our farmers and herdsmen, which has unleashed a serious crisis ever witnessed in the life of our society,” he said.

    Also, Sheik Bala Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of the Muslim community, called for the peaceful co-existence of residents of the state and stressed the need for every stakeholder to support the law.

  • Whistle blowing: Court orders Tsav to appear in court

    Whistle blowing: Court orders Tsav to appear in court

    The Chief Magistrate in Makurdi Magistrates Court, Mr Isaac Ajim, has ordered the Public Complaints Commissioner in Benue State,  Abubakar Tsav, to appear before him on July 3, to respond to complaints brought against him by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Michael Gusa.

    The former Lagos police commissioner was absent in court on Monday.

    Barr. Anthony Agadah, who appeared for the accused, told the court that his client was indisposed.

    He presented a medical report to back his submission and thereafter filed a written motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

    Barr. Andrew Wombo, who appeared for the Attorney General, told the court that since Tsav’s absence was due to ill-health, he was not objecting to the accused lawyer’s request for adjournment.

    The chief magistrate adjourned the matter till July 3.

    He ordered Agadah to ensure Tsav’s presence in court on that date since the matter is a criminal case.

    The Attorney General had accused the retired police officer of spreading falsehood against the state Governor, Samuel Ortom.

    Tsav, in his response claimed he revealed some facts about the governor.

    But Wombo insisted that Tsav did not address his letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The counsel argued that the whistle blowing policy has not become a law, saying Tsav’s letter was given wide publicity in some national newspapers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fulani herdsmen threatening me over open grazing law – Ortom

    Fulani herdsmen threatening me over open grazing law – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday said he has received threat messages from Fulani herdsmen over the open grazing law recently enacted by his administration.

    Ortom stated this when he addressed members of National Council of Tiv Youths who protested at the state Government House, recent “outburst and unguided utterances against Tiv nation and indigenes of Benue State” by leaders of Fulani cattle rearers.

    The governor said he would not be intimidated by the threat, adding that the law has come to stay.

    He said the full implementation of the law would commence in November.

    Governor Ortom had few weeks ago signed the open grazing bill passed by the state House of Assembly. The law prohibits open grazing of cattle and livestock.

    He said the enactment of the law followed constant attacks on farmers in the state.

    Ortom said: “Just this morning (Wednesday) one Fulani herdsman called my wife and asked her to warn me that I am joking with them.  But my response when my wife told me is that I am not joking. This law has come to stay.’

    “I challenge anyone who has superior solution to the senseless killings of our people other than anti-open grazing law to bring it forward before the passage of the bill by the House of Assembly. Due process was followed, every nationality living in the state, the Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas/Fulanis and others were invited to the public hearing.”

     

     

     

     

  • 23 boards of sports associations inaugurated in Benue

    23 boards of sports associations inaugurated in Benue

    Twenty-three boards of Sports Associations in Benue have been inaugurated by the Special Adviser Bureau of Youth and Sports Development, Jonathan Uever, at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    Speaking during the inauguration on Thursday, Uever explained that inauguration of members of the new boards became necessary following the expiration of tenure of former members.

    The Special Adviser said selection of members of the boards was based on track records in sports activities and development.

    “Members have to put in their best for the growth of sports in Benue, particularly at the grass roots,’’ he said.

    Uever praised Gov. Ortom’s efforts in developing the sports sector in Benue, and implored members of the various boards to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated members, Victor Hemba of the state’s tennis association thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in that capacity.

    He promised to do everything possible to enhance sports development in the state.

    Also, chairman of the Basketball Association, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), said he would bring his experience as the national coordinator of Nestle Milo Basketball championship to bear in his new assignment.

    Ahmedu who is also the FIBA African Zone Three President said he would use his international connection to grow talents in the field.

    He urged all members of the Association to brace up to the challenge ahead.