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Tag: Samuel Ortom

  • Wheelbarrow: Jealous opponents blackmailing me – Ortom 

    Wheelbarrow: Jealous opponents blackmailing me – Ortom 

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday said that his political opponents jealous of his achievements are blackmailing him towards 2019 elections over wheelbarrow distribution in the state.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ortom said that such opponents are latching on rumour in attempt to diminish his rising profile.

    He said that it was regrettable that deliberate lies were being told against him by people scheming to gain advantage in the run up to 2019 general election.

    On the accusations of disturbing wheelbarrows for empowerment, he said: “That is outright falsehood. There is no iota of truth. It is meant to scandalize, blackmail and to reduce my rising profile in Benue because of achievements we have recorded during these two years.

    “When you hear the likes of David Mark, who are supposed to be an elder statesman, go to make false propaganda against people who are supposed to be his subjects, I used to regard him as an elder, but it’s unfortunate he is telling lies.

    “Those wheelbarrows were brought to us by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to be distributed to displaced people who need them.

    “They actually need those wheelbarrows and they were given to the state emergency relief body for onward distribution to the victims. And for whatever reasons, the agency wrote my name that I was distributing it.

    “But as soon as that was drawn to my attention, I refuted it and I said this is not my property.

    “In empowerment, I have several programmes for the youth and this one is not meant for the youths. It was distributed to displaced people.

    “So, it was just meant to blackmail me because PDP in Benue are still dreaming, including David Mark, that I am governor and I won election.

    “I left them (PDP) because of the injustice they did to me and I came to APC and found a platform. The people accepted me and I won. They are out to blackmail me and it will not work because there is no iota of truth.”

    On the jealous opponents, he said “Of course, they have been propagating that they want to take over the leadership in 2019 but I think they are just dreaming because even when it was pepper, I was able to finish the food, how much more now that it’s with chicken and sesame seed.  You know it’s easier to eat and the people we are working with, we have gotten more support.

    “More people have decamped from the PDP to the APC. So, where will they go? The local government elections is coming up on June 3. I want them to come up and compete.

    “It’s unfortunate that even to present candidates, there are factions and up till today.

    “I am told that they have six candidates out of the 23 local governments. It is their problem. They should go and sort out their own problem. All I am concerned is to bring development to my people.” he said

    Ortom said that he has invited former Senate President, David Mark, to a meeting where he presented his administration’s second year scorecard but he declined, adding that other Benue citizens however applauded his effort.

    He said: “On the 22 May, I invited all Benue stakeholders, David Mark was invited and I was given standing ovation. That alone is an indication that Benue people are pleased with me in all sectors despite all the challenges especially in funding.

    “I have cleared arrears of salaries. These people are just jealous, David Mark is jealous and all his cohorts are jealous. They have left Benue State and went to Rivers and met and came and disturb us in Benue State. Let them come to Benue State.” he added

    He maintained that his problem with Mark was not about a quarrel but spreading of falsehood, adding however that he would take any opportunity to discuss the issue over with the former Senate president.

    He said “I don’t think it’s about quarrel. For a very senior citizen of that level to spread falsehood and tell lies against his governor when I invited them to stakeholders meeting where my two year scorecard was delivered to my people and they accepted it and appreciated what we are doing and he refused to come only to go to Rivers and be telling lies against me, It’s unfortunate.

    “Anytime I have the opportunity I think we will discuss things over,” he stated.

    It would be recalled that while commissioning some projects executed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state recently, Mark had alluded to the fact that while Wike was commissioning roads, some state governors were busy distributing wheelbarrows to their citizens.

     

  • Fulani group kicks as Ortom bans open grazing

    Fulani group kicks as Ortom bans open grazing

    …Tells Ortom to halt anti-grazing law

     

    A group, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has asked the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom to halt the anti-grazing law.

    GAFDAN while describing the law as harsh and capable of causing breakdown of law and order requested that the law be suspended until alternative to open grazing is provided by the government.

    The Governor on Monday signed into law the bill tagged: ‘Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017’.

    The law provides a five-year jail term and the possibility of an additional N1million as fine for any violator.

    The reaction of the group is contained in a statement in Abuja Wednesday by its Secretary General, Alhaji Sale Bayari.

    The statement reads: “We are calling on Governor of Benue state, Mr. Samuel Ortom to immediately halt the enforcement of Benue State Anti-Grazing law called Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017, passed into Law on Thursday 4th May, 2017 by the Benue State House of Assembly and signed into law by the governor on Monday, 21st May, 2017.

    “This call has become necessary in view of the fact that our members, the herdsmen have not been provided with any alternative grazing spaces in the state before being asked to comply with this law.

    “The law provides for the provision or establishment of cattle ranches, but the law did not provide any clue as to how the herdsmen could access such ranches nor were they told how they could acquire these ranches for themselves and whether they could afford to do so.”

    It further read: “We want to advise the Governor and people (farmer) of Benue state not to use the enactment of such repressive and vindictive law to harass our members.

    “We appeal to the farmers to distance themselves from taking law into their hands against the herdsmen as this will lead to a serious breakdown of law and order.

    “We call on the government and people of Benue State to put this law on hold until an alternative to the open grazing is found or provided by the government.

    “It is our view and position that this law is too harsh, reprehensive, repressive and discriminatory by providing for a 5-year jail term and the possibility of an additional N1million as fine.

    “This law, in our opinion is a recipe for chaos if not looked into with a view to putting it on hold or to repeal if there is no alternative provided by the government for the herdsmen in the mean time before its enforcement by providing ranches for the herdsmen.”

    The group also urged the federal government to intervene. “We wish to call on the Federal Government to intervene immediately and directly through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe who is coincidentally from Benue state, to halt this ugly situation.

    “It is an irony that it is the state where the Minister of Agriculture, a minister that the herdsmen should run to that would be the first state in the entire north to enact such hate law.”

    GAFDAN however called on its members in Benue state and sympathisers all over the country and diaspora to be patient, tolerant and obedient to all laws and security agencies and not take the laws into their hands no matter the unconstitutional provocation.

    It noted that it would continue to seek constitutional and peaceful means of ensuring that the law is made null and void through whatever means legal and lawful.

     

  • Osinbajo, Ortom, NSA meet over Benue clashes

    Osinbajo, Ortom, NSA meet over Benue clashes

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over security situation in the state.

    Ortom told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that there is now great harmony between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    He also explained why it is difficult for grazing to take place in the state.

    The governor said: “I came here to brief the acting President on the security situation in my state. We are on top of the situation and things are coming down, the herdsmen and the farmers are now cooperating. The understanding is that no one should encroach into anyone’s farm whether for cattle breeding or farming activities.

    “And those ones that cannot live within the community except they do open grazing are already leaving for other places where there is land. Like we keep saying in Benue State, almost all the land here is for cultivation, so, it is difficult to talk about grazing. ‎The herdsmen too understand our position on this matter.

    Ortom said the state will soon sign the anti- open grazing bill into law‎.

     

  • Anyone with a case of corruption against my govt should blow whistle – Ortom

    Anyone with a case of corruption against my govt should blow whistle – Ortom

    Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has challenged residents of the state not to hesitate to blow the whistle if they had any case of corruption against him or any of his appointees.

    “I have tried to run an open and transparent administration. Anyone with a case of corruption against me or any of my officials should blow the whistle and get the approved five per cent reward,” Ortom said on Sunday in Makurdi.

    He spoke at a children dedication and thanksgiving service organised by Pastor Daniel Unongo, the Government House Chaplain, whose wife delivered a set of twins after 18 years of marriage.

    Ortom said that his duty as governor was to execute God’s will, and urged the people to feel free to offer their counsel and criticism.

    The governor said that he had always sought God’s nod before taking any decision, and urged those attacking his administration to wait and see what would happen in the near future.

    “Those insulting and criticiing me should wait, watch and see what will happen when I complete my tenure.

    “At the moment, I am owing four months salaries and we are believing God that the issue of non-payment of salaries or delay will soon become history.

    “ Ours is not the worst; we have states owing workers seven months and even beyond. But, we shall try to tackle the issue,” he said.

    Ortom commended the Chaplain for keeping faith in God in the face of the pains and challenges that come with barrenness, saying that God had never abandoned those who trusted Him.

    The First Lady, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, in her remarks, said that God had again demonstrated His powers by wiping away the tears and pains of the Unongo family.

    A joyous Unongo, in his response, thanked God for the blessings and urged others in similar situations to turn to God in prayer.

  • Fulani herdsmen attack two Benue communities

    Fulani herdsmen attack two Benue communities

    Six days after Fulani herdsmen invaded Logo local government area, home of ex-governor, Gabriel Suswam killing about twenty people, the insurgents between Tuesday and Wednesday again made a violent incursion into the Mbavuur council ward of the local government killing four people and injuring 16 others.

    The herders also proceeded to Mbaya council ward in neighbouring Buruku local government area where they killed two people and overran the entire council ward with more than 4, 000 cattle grazing freely in the area. This brings to six the total number of people killed during the week.

    The twin attacks came as Governor, Samuel Ortom on Friday allegedly disowned his Special Assistant on Fulani Matters who doubles as National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Benue State chapter, Alhaji Garus Gololo over comments he allegedly uttered on the “presence of herdsmen in parts of the state”.

    In Logo Local government, former chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ndiisaa Terhemen told The Nation that the invaders first stormed the Tse-Igboughul village on Tuesday about 8pm when most people had gone to bed and were shooting randomly during which two people were killed.Terhemen added that the attack which spilled over to the next day (Wednesday), saw the killing of four people while ten others who sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds were rushed to hospitals in Zaki-Biam and Ugba, headquarters of the local government for treatment.

    The Nation gathered that in Buruku, the homestead of a member of the House of Representatives representing Buruku constituency, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Yisa Orker Jev, the invaders penetrated several communities to Mbaya council ward where they murdered two victims and left them in their pool of blood, bringing the total number of people killed as at press time to about eight.

    Residents who deserted their homes in the two local governments left their food items and livestock at the mercy of the insurgents.

    Sources from the affected communities who spoke with our correspondent said the attack which came at the peak of farming activities, has grounded all economic and social services as some schools, hospitals and business premises have been forced to close up.

    Reacting, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress in the local government, Mr. Mbatseen Terngu, confirmed the killing, saying over 4,000 Fulani cattle were grazing roaming freely in the area with the herdsmen destroying their farmlands.

    An aide to Hon. Orker Jev, Desmond Ikyume, told Saturday Nation  that the attackers made incursion at about 8 pm on Tuesday night and surrounded the village, adding that what followed was sporadic shootings and massive exit of inhabitants.

    Mr. Ikyume added that one of the victims was stabbed to death in the stomach with a sword, adding that corpses of the victims were deposited at the hospital.

    Meanwhile, Governor Ortom on Friday said he has no connection with his Special Adviser on Fulani Matters, Alhaji Garus Gololoany longer, as he said, he is neither his appointee at the time he was quoted to have granted the interviews nor at the time of issuing this press statement”.

    Governor Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, released to journalists in Makurdi, accused the Fulani chief of disputing the remarks he (Ortom) earlier made that herdsmen have taken over twelve local government areas in the state.

    “We wish to state that as a citizen of this country who enjoys the right to freedom of speech, Mallam Gololo is at liberty to air his opinion on any issue of national or state interest, whether or not his opinion is right as it is evident in the said publications that he failed to get his facts correct”.

    “If indeed he made the published comments, they represent his personal skewed views, have no connection with the true security situation in the state and remain irrelevant as far as the present administration is concerned”.

    The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Joel Yamu said he was “not aware of the attack” and tasked our correspondent “to cross your facts”.

  • Ortom promises to upgrade schools

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has promised to provide more structures at the State’s Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Makurdi, as part of his administration’s plans toward making the institutions degree awarding.

    Ortom made the disclosure on Tuesday in Makurdi while receiving the principals, staff and students of the two schools at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

    He added that the government would provide more facilities and improve the landscaping in the schools.

    Ortom said the schools were strategic to the state’s quest for improved healthcare services, adding that degree holders from the institution would easily be absorbed into the public and private health institutions.

    The governor called on the members of the c (ASUU), Benue State University (BSU) Chapter, to call off their strike.
    He said that the state government was making efforts to resolve issues concerning their unpaid allowances.
    Ortom appealed to the lecturers to consider the difficult economic condition in the country, saying no sacrifice would be too small.
    He said it was because of the importance attached to the university that salaries were paid regularly to staff.
    Earlier, the principals of the Schools, Mrs Pauline Atser of Nursing and Mrs Margaret Onuh of Midwifery, told Ortom that the visit was to show appreciation for government’s efforts in ensuring the reaccreditation of the two schools.
    They also expressed appreciation to the governor for giving approval for the recruitment of staff, noting that his promise to upgrade the institution to degree awarding status had boosted their morale.

     

  • Ortom declares emergency on salary payment

    Ortom declares emergency on salary payment

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom,on saturday declared a state of emergency on salary payment.

    Governor Ortom made the announcement at a meeting with Labour leaders at the New Banquet Hall of Government House in Makurdi.
    He also set up a committee to work out details of its implementation.
    The committee has the Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu as chairman and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Matthew Uyina, as Secretary.

    Other members are Commissioners of Finance, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, their colleagues in the Ministries of Health and Information as well as Advisers on Labour, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Development Cooperation, Rural Development and Cooperatives.

    Labour leaders on the committee are Comrade Godwin Anya, State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Terungwa Igbe, President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Philip Ter Nongu, State Chairman, Joint Councils one, two and three, and Comrade Ordue Tartenger, Trade Union Congress chairman.

    Governor Ortom stated that the implications of the declaration included prioritization of salary payment as well as the exploration of every means of obtaining funds to clear arrears including  borrowing.

    He said the committee’s terms of reference would include pruning of the State wage bill, fishing out ghost workers and perpetrators of fraud with regard to the issue.

  • Wike/Ortom faceoff: ‘Wike’s charity should begin at home’

    Wike/Ortom faceoff: ‘Wike’s charity should begin at home’

    The President of Ikwerre Bu Otu Peace Movement in Rivers State, Amb Prince I. Ihuonwo, has weighed in on the war of words between the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom over Wike’s road construction in Benue state.

    The two governors have been sparring over Wike’s decision to reconstruct the Makurdi-Naka-Adoka and the Aliade-Oju-Obarike-Ifo-Otukpo roads in Benue, with Wike calling for the declaration of state of emergency in Benue state.

    Ihuonwo, during a chat with The Nation, expressed surprise that Wike’ was committing about N4billion to reconstruct roads in the middle belt state when there were several roads begging for attention in the state.

    He urged the governor to let “charity begin at home’.

    He said, “We are surprised that our governor is committing about N4bn to sponsor road in another state and we are here in Ogbakiri (Emuohua local government area) where there has been no road since the creation of Rivers State.

    “He (Wike) should not be doing something that he would receive praises for from outside while his people are dying. We have no road, nothing to show, while he is bettering the lives of other people in Benue state.

    “How does it benefit people of Rivers? He should start from Ogbakiri, where the people have nothing to show for supporting the PDP.

    “It was the former President Shehu Shagari that gave us road. After then former governors (Peter) Odili, (Rotimi) Amaechi and now Wike have been governor yet we do not have road and our governor is building roads in other states?

    “We wonder what the point is in doing that because there are people in Ogbakiri who are supporting him and there is nothing for them to show for their support,” Ihunowo said.

    Speaking further the Ikwerre leader lamented the absence of development at the grassroots of Ogbakiri, stressing the area lacks good roads and drainage system to alleviate their suffering.

    Ihuonwo said Ogbakiri was still suffering from the crisis that rocked the area till 2000, noting that 17 years after the people and infrastructure are not better off.

     

  • Benue seals federal varsity over N2.3bn tax default

    Benue seals federal varsity over N2.3bn tax default

    The Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) on Wednesday sealed the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), over N2.3 billion unremitted Personal Income Tax (PIT).

    The BIRS Chairman, Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, led the enforcement team to the university and sealed the offices of the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and the Bursar.

    Adzape-Orubibi told newsmen that the board had no option but to honour a Makurdi High Court order to seal the institution over the non remittance of the funds.

    “BIRS got an interim order to seal off FUAM because it fails to remit N2.3 billion PAYE that it deducted between 2007 and 2011.

    “Also, there are cases where the university deducts less than what the law stipulates. The university will now pay about N3 billion, including penalties and interest.”

    She said that Gov. Samuel Ortom was committed to uplifting the standard of education in the state, but the decision to seal the institution had become imperative.

    She expressed regret that the tax problem had been on for a long period.

    Reacting to the closure, the ASUU Acting Chairman, Mr Bemgba Anjembe regretted that workers’ PAYE was deducted monthly from staff salary while they were denied tax clearance certificates.

    Meanwhile, students of  the university besieged the BIRS office on Gboko Road, Makurdi, to protest against the closure.

  • Governor blames Benue killings on criminals

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said the most recent killings in the state were not perpetrated by herdsmen, but criminal elements.

    Ortom stated this after the state security council meeting in Makurdi on Monday.

    The governor also said the killings were not due to communal clashes, stressing that they were carried out by criminal elements bent on unleashing terror and mayhem on innocent citizens.

    He, however, promised that the killings would soon be nipped in the bud; and the perpetrators arrested and prosecuted.

    He further said the criminals had been identified and that the security agencies would soon go after them.

    “’We are not ready to surrender the state to criminals,” the governor said.

    He said all hands must be on deck to enable the government to succeed in addressing insecurity.

    “’Security challenges cannot be tackled by a single individual or by the police alone but all must cooperate for the overall benefit of all and sundry,” he added.

    Reacting to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s recent comments on the issue, Ortom said he was ready for probe at any given time.

    The governor said he had nothing to hide as he was keeping Benue people abreast of every financial transaction undertaken by the state and what he had received from the Federal Government.

    Ortom advised Wike to concentrate on governing his state and stop making unguided utterances against him.

    NAN