Ortom does not rear snakes,he rears snails,grass cutters,cattle of different species and other animals - Anbua (Comm for Agric).

Governor Ortom of Benue State: Can the governor rear snakes?

Mr James Anbua, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Benue, on Monday debunked the rumours making the rounds that Gov. Samuel Ortom is rearing snakes.

Anbua told newsmen in Makurdi that “no single snake farm exists in the state, let alone being owned by the governor”.

He said that some unscrupulous persons were linking the governor to the foreign snakes imported into the country and intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar.

The commissioner said that anything associated with snake was considered to be evil by the people of the state.

Anbua said that no Benue indigene would contemplate owning a snake farm in the state.

“Ortom does not rear snakes. He does not have a snake farm.

“What he rears are snails, grass cutters, cattle of different species, among other domestic animals,” he said.

He said that the Ortom’s administration had led a revolution in agriculture with numerous initiatives to make the state embody the true meaning of its status as the “Food Basket of the Nation’’.

The commissioner said that the governor has done everything possible to take agriculture to lofty heights.

He stressed that snake farming was certainly not part of the agricultural programmes of the state government, describing it as alien to the people.

Anbua said that the state government is doing its best in yam farming and other crops for processing into various agricultural value chain for export.

The government, he said, is not involved in snake farming, because it is not beneficial to the people.

"We accept the judgement of the Supreme Court', My lawyer did not make any statement against the Supreme Court ruling..- Hon Herman Hembe.

Last week a statement was circulated on social media and credited to Hon Herman Hembe's lawyer on the issue of the removal of the honorable from the low house which Fabmimi published.

In the said  statement ,Hon Hembe's  lawyer allegedly accused the Benue state government of delivering N400million to get the judgement that sacked Hembe from the assembly.

In a swift response ,Hon Hembe disowned the statement and appealed to the general public to disregard the press release ,he also accepted the judgment by the supreme court.
Read Hon Hembe's state

My attention has been drawn to a statement been carried in the social Media accredited to Hon. Herman Hembe's Lawyer (s) against the recent decision of the Supreme Court over the Vandekya /Konshisha Federal Constituency.
We want to call on the General Public to disregard same as neither Hon. Herman Hembe nor his Legal Team led by Kola Olowookore Esq. can make or authorize to be made, any uncanny or statement capable of denigrating our esteemed judiciary and the judicial system.   

We accept the judgement of the court and will make any statement if need be.

Kindly disregard any statement of mischief makers contrary to this.
Thank you.

Signed

Rt Hon Herman Hembe
June 30, 2017.

Ortom has turned Benue to personal business venture – Tsav

An Elder statesman and acclaimed social justice watchdog, Alhaji Abubakar B. Tsav has accused the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom of neglecting the state for his Oracle business.

Tsav, a former commissioner of police has dragged Ortom before the presidency and other relevant security agencies over reasons of using his office to acquire ill-wealth for himself, family, cronies, favoured ones and in-laws.

The elder statesman said his action was informed by the pronouncement by government to expose corrupt persons both in government and private sector.

He disclosed that while the peasants of Benue people are living in extreme poverty under the APC administration, the governor has derived pleasure in exploiting them using the Bible, yet he call himself “Man of God”.

Tsav in a statement on Sunday, said Oracle Businesses which is the family businesses of the governor are blossoming to a conglomerate which has now expanded to Oracle Feeds Ltd, Oracle Farms Ltd, Oracle Media Ltd, Goshen Water (Ltd), Oracle Plastic Ltd, Oracle Super Sack Ltd and Tongi New Construction with Stephen Amase as a front with plans to diversify to other businesses including oil prospection in the future.

He recalled that, “On 12th July 2015, the Chief Executive Officer of Oracle Business Ltd, Mr. Mike Ortom, wrote a congratulatory letter to the governor over his victory and in the same letter presented a proposal for supply of thirty units of Toyota Prado Jeep model as Government Official Vehicles at the cost of N18million per unit amounting to N540million which the governor approved and directed the SSG to treat on 17th July, 2015 without advertising and competitive bidding.

“Sometimes in 2015, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in their efforts to assist the Benue poor held discussion with governor Ortom with a view to setting up a state of the art cassava peel factory for the production of Animals Feeds in the state only for governor Ortom to hijack the project and integrate it to Oracle farm after signing an M.O.U on behalf of Benue state and hosting the delegation at government expense” he said.

He also queried the whereabouts of the over N2billion the Federal Government made available to Benue state for dry season farming, alleging that the whole money was pocketed by the governor.

“Your Excellency, you have been to China with Benue state Commissioner for Agriculture for more or about three times but brought no Chinese as Consultant to your government, but rather sixteen of them for your private farm. You also went to South Africa allegedly to woo investors. Where are these investors? If this is not corruption, then there is nothing like corruption in the world..”.

Tsav also disclosed that during the coronation of His Royal Majesty, the Tor Tiv Fifth, it was discovered that both the invitation cards, programmes, canopies, table water and every entertainment items was supplied by Oracle Business Ltd at the expense of the government.

Alhaji Tsav, therefore, requested the relevant agencies to investigate the allegations and pronounced the right penalty on Governor Samuel Ortom.

Ex gov Suswam and "Ghana" are responsible for all the crisis in Benue state- DSS gives reasons for detaining him for long.

The Department of State Services has revealed its reasons for detaining a former Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, for about 73 days between February 25 and Sunday, May 7, 2017.

According to Punch online, The agency stated that intelligence available to it showed that Suswam was affiliated with an alleged militia leader in the state, Terwase Akwaza, also known as Gana, “who is involved in terrorising the citizens of Benue State.”

It stated that Suswam had threatened to make Benue State ungovernable for the incumbent governor, Samuel Ortom, adding that indeed the state “has proved to be ungovernable in the past few months with various crises occurring every now and then.”

The agency added that Suswam was arrested on February 25, 2017, for allegedly being in possession of “three lethal and prohibited weapons” and for his “avowed commitment to bring about a state of unrest in Benue State.”

The agency stated these through one of its operatives, Mr. Abdullahi Adamu, who deposed to a counter-affidavit filed to oppose a fundamental human rights enforcement suit instituted by Suswam, challenging the alleged violation of his rights through alleged illegal and continued detention.

Suswam had filed his N10bn suit on April 4, 2017, after spending no fewer than 38 days in the DSS detention.

He joined the DSS; its Director General, Lawal Daura; and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as the defendants.

But the three defendants in a counter-affidavit, filed as their joint response to the suit, denied the allegations of violating the ex-governor’s rights, exhibiting copies of the various court orders permitting them to keep Suswam in custody.

Adamu, the DSS operative, who deposed to the respondents’ affidavit, stated that “three lethal and prohibited weapons” were allegedly uncovered in the ex-governor’s Mercedes Benz car.

The operative, who said he was of the DSS team that arrested Suswam on February 25, 2017, explained that the former governor admitted that the weapons were found in his vehicle but claimed that they were planted there by his political enemies.

He stated in his counter-affidavit, “That I know as a fact that intelligent report at our disposal is to the effect that he (Suswam) has vowed to make Benue State ungovernable for the present governor of the state (Samuel Ortom).

“That the applicant is said to be affiliated with the militia leader Terwase Akwaza, also known as Gana, who is involved in terrorising the citizens of Benue State.

“That Benue State has proved to be ungovernable in the past few months, with various crises occurring every now and then.

“That intelligence available to the respondents revealed that the applicant and the militia leader (who is currently at large) are behind the spate of kidnappings and loss of lives in Benue State.

“That I know for a fact that three lethal and prohibited weapons, to wit, a Gluck Pistol, with serial no. KM275; a Mini Uzi, with serial no. 54976; and one (1) AK 47 rifle, with serial no. 56 -22620063, were discovered in the applicant’s Mercedes Benz car at Dunes.

“That as a result of the above, the applicant was arrested for the possession of ammunition and the avowed commitment to bring about a state of unrest in Benue State.”

The respondents maintained that it was “in the best interest of justice and citizens of Benue State that the applicant remained in detention pending his arraignment in due course by the third respondent (the AGF).”

Further justifying Suswam’s detention, Adamu stated that after arresting the former governor on February 25, the DSS on February 28, sought and obtained through an ex parte motion, an order made by Justice Y. Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, to keep the applicant for 14 days.

The operative stated that the agency also through an ex parte motion, on March 15, 2017, obtained a renewal of the remand order extending the period of the detention, “pending the completion of investigation” by another 14 days.

Source The Punch

Gov.Ortom swears in Head Of Service, tasks him on service delivery.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Monday charged the state’s new Head of Service, Mr George Ede, to transform the state’s civil service for better service delivery.

Ortom, who gave the charge in Makurdi, while swearing-in Ede as the new HoS, said that the civil service was currently plagued by truancy, non-performance and a lack of commitment by workers.

The governor noted that the challenges plaguing the service was responsible for the inability of his administration to pay salaries as and when due.

Ortom said, however, that a committee had been constituted to ensure that salaries were paid on time, assuring that the backlog of salaries owed workers would be cleared soon.
He said that his administration was giving appointments based on track record, noting that Ede did not lobby to be appointed HoS.

Ede thanked the governor for finding him worthy of the appointment, pledging that he would justify the confidence reposed in him.

He said that he would ensure that the civil service adhered to its core values of service delivery to the people of the state.

Who removed ''Thank You Suswam' from LGEA Primary School Wurukum,Benue State? PHOTOS.

On Monday 8 May 2017,the inscription bearing 'Thank You Suswam'' removed from a primary renovated and commissioned during  the regime of  ex governor Dr Gabriel Suswam. According to one Tyover he posted this below....

ORTOM FRUSTRATED BY SUSWAM RELEASE, ORDERS RENAMING OF LGEA PRIMARY AT WURUKUM BESIDE FORMER AFRIBANK.

Information reaching now and confirmed by the Head Teacher of the school Mr Augustine Huan, said he received a phone call this morning with instructions to Remove the symbol of the school which reads "THANK U SUSWAM" but he refused to disclose to me, he only said orders from above.

As at the time I got to the school, work was already in progress as students and teachers were made to work on it as seen in the pictures attached here. In a chat with one of the teacher Miss Caroline Ade, she said the news came to them as a shock and one wonders what the school stands to Benefit it's renaming. One other teacher I spoke who refused to give me her name for fear of victimisation says, renaming the school doesn't change the fact the Suswam gave the school the befitting looks and laboratory equipments.

He further said that priority should be on teachers welfare now whom have not been paid for several months rather chasing shadows.

I met some students and teachers mixing sand with cement while others were chiselling out the Thank You Suswam on the school fence.

Waiting for more details...

Benue State Assembly passes Open Rearing and Grazing Bill,Bans Open Grazing Of Cattle, Stipulates 5-year Jail Term For Offenders

The Benue State House of Assembly on Thursday successfully passed the bill prohibiting Open Rearing and Grazing into law.

The house had on Tuesday received the report of its Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on the bill to prohibit Open grazing in the State.

The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. James Gbande.

A perusal of the report shows that the title of the bill was changed from Livestock Promotion, Development and Regulatory Agency establishment bill, to a bill to prohibiting Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and provide for the establishment of Ranches and Livestock administration, regulation and control, in line with the feelings of Benue people.

The lawmakers, who debated upon the bill on Thursday, agreed that the development would henceforth end the protracted war between Benue farmers and herdsmen.

The house subsequently stipulated that any herder found violating the law would be sentenced to five years imprisonment and as well pay a fine of N1m.

According to the house, “Nobody will be permitted to carry out open grazing outside the permitted ranches.

“Any person who contravenes this act shall be guilty and upon conviction be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with a fine of 1 million.

“Where damage is done to crops, the farm will be evaluated and the manager of the livestock be compelled to pay.

“Movement of livestock on foot within the state is hereby prohibited. Any person who contravenes this shall be sentenced to one-year imprisonment or pay a fine of N500,000

“Any livestock owner or manager who carries firearms shall be treated under the penal code. All ranchers shall engage the services of security agencies.

“Any person who rustles cattle shall be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment or pay a fine of N100,000 per cow. Any livestock wandering shall be impounded by the department of livestock.

“Any livestock impounded and the owner not found shall be auctioned to the public and the proceeds be deposited into the state consolidated revenue account.

“They shall be established, a special open prohibition tax force that will enforce these laws as stipulated.”

"Everybody is bound to fail, so even if the Govt. fails it costs state nothing in the failure...."Dan Mashin.(APC Social Media).

A Benue State Government Social media Advertiser , Dan Mashin wrote:"Everybody is bound to fail, so even if the Govt. fails it costs state nothing in the failure...."

Meanwhile ,Government failure refers to when the government intervenes in the economy to fix a problem, but only ends up creating more problems. That means it harms social welfare and/or makes the market less efficient. ... They began to argue that

government always created inefficiency, and was always a problem.

House Maid from Benue state steals bosses’ $10,000

The police in Lagos have arrested a maid, Blessing Paul for allegedly stealing her boss’ $10,000 in Gbagada.
Paul was alleged to have forcibly opened the boss’ room with a knife and collected the money while the woman was at work.
It was gathered that the maid, who had been stealing money and other valuables from her victim’s home, handed over the foreign currencies to the house guard identified as Daniel.

The guard, it was gathered, handed the money to a security man at another residence in Gbagada, who in turn took it to a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator for the Naira equivalent.

But the operator was said to have told policemen he received only about $5,000 from Amos.

Instead of giving them N360/USD, the BDC operator gave the suspects at N86 per dollar, thereby shortchanging the alleged thieves of more than two million naira.

According to the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the woman they stole from was one Mrs. Tokunbo.

He said the maid confessed that the woman has been very kind to her, adding that she usually bought clothes and gift items for her to take to her family in Benue State.

Cole said that the BDC operator gave the suspects N870, 000 as equivalent for $5,000, adding that the police have recovered N400, 000 from there.

“We also found N400, 000 in the maid’s bank account but we are following court’s procedure to seize the money. The BDC operator was allegedly given $10,000 but he claimed he only received $5,000. Investigation revealed that money and valuables have been missing in the house, but the woman didn’t suspect the maid until the theft of foreign currency last week.”

Gov Ortom allegedly writes Gov Wike, begs him to end Media War. Details.

A letter of apology which was personally signed by the governor of Benue state, Mr. Samuel Ortom, and addressed to his Rivers state counterpart, Mr Nyemson Wike, has been leaked by an online media.

Inside the letter which was available to Nigerian Concord, Governor begged Wike to stop the media war he had started against him(Ortom) for peace to reign.

Below is the letter:

His Excellency,
Barr. Nyesom Wike,
Executive Governor,
Rivers State,
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

My dear brother,

MY EARNEST AND SINCERE ENTREATIES FOR PEACE.

Compliments of the day and calvary greetings I bring to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It has become necessary for me to reach out to you through this missive given the recent turn of events between you and I, particularly as has been given wide attention in the media. You will agree with me your office and mine are being spotlighted in the public domain for all the wrong reasons, and this I believe is not good for our people.

Permit me to humbly remind you that we both share a relationship which dates back to our days as ministers in the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, during which time I benefited immensely as your colleague from the Olympian height influence and powers you wielded in the innermost corridors of that administration.

You were a rallying point and purveyor of positive ideas and action which added much impetus to the machinery of the Jonathan administration. I recall vividly the many times you facilitated Mr. President’s favourable attention to requests and proposals from me.

Of a fact and indeed, you were a true colleague and a dependable ally in the spirit of the Northern-Southern Minorities Alliance which was championed in the days of past governors Aper Aku of my state and Melford Okilo of yours.

It is the same spirit I invoke now to implore you to tow the line of restraint and good reason in addressing issues of misunderstanding between yourself and I. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from fighting each other.

I am aware part of the reasons for your umbrage against me may not be unconnected with the travails of your erstwhile colleague and friend, who happens also to be my predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, who is currently in detention and facing trial by security agencies over certain charges of misconduct levied against him.

I may not be wholly responsible for his calamities, but I understand that the blame for all that happens in Benue State during my time as governor will be heaped on me. Having said that in this particular regard, permit me to point out an incontrovertible fact to you. This is the fact of survival being the first and most basic instinct of every living thing

When I assumed the governorship of my state I was immediately confronted with the unyielding demand for me to carve a new niche for both my party and my administration, more so, being that I was of a different political platform from the previous one. This demand I expected my predecessor, Suswam, to understand and cooperate with me, despite the discomfort he was bound to be subjected to every now and then.

Unfortunately, my predecessor and your good friend refused to see things in this light. He instead went on the offensive against me, humiliating me at every opportunity, mostly at public functions, and refusing to accord me the respect and consideration I deserve as governor. Suswam left me with no choice but to fight back against him in order to survive.

Today this fight has spiralled and dragged you in, but sadly for me, you have joined in the belief that I, who has all along been the victim, is the aggressor. As a spirit-filled Christian, I have never gone out of my way to fight Suswam. I have only always reacted in self defense, always leaving everything to the God whom I serve to fight my battles for me.

As a believing Christian, I act only as God directs me.

I assure you that I am making efforts to ensure that his travails with the security agencies are mitigated and he is preserved as a worthy son of Benue State. This assurance I implore you to take as a mark of my goodwill and accordingly sheath your sword raised against me, in the interest of the people of Rivers and Benue states.

Accept the assurances of my most esteemed regards, as I await positive response from you to this earnest entreaties of mine.

Mr. Samuel Ortom,
Executive Governor.

Source Nigerian Concord

Your Excellency – “not every person who criticizes your government is an enemy of yours or of the government”- Ukan Kurugh Writes Gov Samuel Ortom.

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SAMUEL IORAER ORTOM

Good morning Your Excellency,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits.
I am again urged to write to you on this very small but important issue. This is because small issues often overlooked for too long accumulate into big issues. I am sure you have heard time and time again about this but again as your subjects we will need assurances from you that we have your ears and our complaints are not being misconstrued.

Knowing you’re an avid Christian i will reference the Holy Bible to make my point. It was in Daniel chapter two that King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his dreams be interpreted and forbade his advisers from lying to him or embellishing their revelations. It was also as a result of this that Daniel looked him in the eye and told him the truth as harsh as it was.

In our culture it is disrespectful to look an elder in the eye but “yam anyi” and permit me to tell you a simple truth Your Excellency – “not every person who criticizes your government is an enemy of yours or of the government”. The Facebook platform that formed a formidable force behind your election also forms a platform for discussion and on it many criticisms, not all of them are made from a place of malice. Most of them are from pains and groans of hardship, a lot of them are constructive and can be fine tuned into policy direction for the good of everyone.

I know you’re a busy man so I will keep it short. All I am asking is for your assurance that you have heard us and that you will continue to hear us. That the relevance of your people does not just spring up during elections but that the common man remains relevant even today and their two kobo offerings will be at least considered not sneered at and dumped in the pile of “ka mba opposition gaa”.

Finally, I am happy with your statement to end the occupation of Benue by Fulani militants. I plead with you not to let it become just a statement. May God help us all in these trying times. Accept my condolence over the death of your indigenes and my brothers,sister that were killed in cold blood.

God bless Governor Samuel Ortom
God bless the good People of Benue State

Sincerely,
Ukan Kurugh
aim (Advocate for the Interest of the Masses)

Paris Club refund:EFCC must probe Benue Governor, Ortom – Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom over the use of Paris Club refund allocation.

This is coming barely one week after he called for the imposition of a state of emergency on Benue State, over what he described as the state government’s show of incapability in handling security matters.

Speaking with newsmen, the governor said despite the amount of money disbursed to Benue, Ortom had not done much to cater to the needs of the people, hence the need for EFCC investigation.

According to Wike, “The EFCC should look into the Paris Club refund allocation to Benue State because there is paucity of infrastructure in the state. The governor should be asked to account for the money and other allocations he has received in nearly two years in office.”

He maintained that Benue people are suffering “because they don’t have dividends of democracy.”

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently ordered the release of the second tranche of London-Paris Club loan refunds to States .

This is coming at a time the Rivers State Governor had, last week, called for the declaration of state of emergency in Benue State, following the killing of about 52 people in a market in Zaki Biam, Benue State.

The governor had maintained that the state governor failed in managing the problem of insecurity in the state.

Ortom's convoy in road crash. PHOTOS

The convoy of Benue state gov,Samuel Ortom' was this afternoon 21 march 2017 in the minor accident which occurred on their way back from Zaki-Biam A statement signed by Chief Press Secretary  to the gov,Terver Akase, An oncoming vehicle, Carina Two, left its lane and hit the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, bus which was on Governor Samuel Ortom's convoy. 

No life was lost in the incident.
One occupant of the Carina car sustained serious head injuries and was taken to hospital on the directive of the Governor.
The State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Kris Atsaka who was in the bus sustained minor injuries.
The incident occurred about 4:30pm between Abakwa and Adi in Buruku local government area.

I’ve reconciled with Suswam – Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, announced that he had reconciled with former governor, Gabriel Suswam, following the intervention of traditional rulers in the state and elder statesman, Wanteregh Paul Iorpuu Unongo. 

 They had been at loggerhead after the Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the present administration to look into the finances of the state between 2007 and 2015, indicted the Suswam-led administration of alleged misappropriation of about N107 billion.

Addressing a meeting of Benue stakeholders in Makurdi, Governor Ortom noted that his grievances with the former governor were not personal, but dictated by the people of the state. He said: “Whatever I was saying or doing was not personal because I don’t have personal problems with him. I only acted in line with the directives of the people who elected me to be their governor. “Nonetheless, following the intervention of elder statesman and former Minister of Steel, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, and traditional rulers from Shetile axis of Sankera, we agreed to ceasefire and reconcile. “I must also point out that this would not have taken long if Suswam had cooperated with me initially. Suswam’s hands had been up against me that was why I continued to bite, but we have reconciled and there are no more issues.”

Assessing Ortom in Benue State.

Governor Samuel Ortom emerged in 2015 as the first person from outside the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to govern Benue State. The change was, however, superficial in historic perspectives, given Mr. Ortom’s long membership of the PDP until weeks before his election as governor.

Peter Duru a senior reporter with Vanguard Newspaper takes a look at the governor’s ascension to office in what was generally discovered as a hostile takeover has been laced with much brickbat.
While the governor is accused by his PDP traducers of poor performance, his supporters in the All Progressives Congress, APC, pin the present challenges of the state on the preceding PDP-inspired Gabriel Suswam regime. Two leading aficionados of the ruling and opposing parties ventilate on Ortom in Benue.

•Iortyom

It’s outright failure — Iortyom,

PDP scribe Bemgba Iortyom is the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State.

HOW do you assess the APC government after nearly two years in office?

It’s a clear cut outright failure, incompetence, lack of vision and show of unpreparedness to lead. This is clearly manifested in the extent of hunger and poverty that is in the land. The quality of life of the people in the state has dropped drastically. 

Prices of food stuff have gone up, and essential commodities are no longer available. 

To even compound it, is the lack of tangible infrastructural development. This is a government that owes salaries for up to a year. This is a government that has the highest debt profile ever known in the history of the state. This is a government that is insincere in what it says. This is a government that does not match its actions with what it says. This is a government that is clearly not trustworthy. 

But the APC says you are to blame for plundering the state for the 16 years you were in power?

 When you say you have come into government, the first thing you must ensure is to maintain the minimum basic quality of life for the people then the next thing is to begin to work to improve on that. So I ask, what was the basic quality of life of the Benue people when this government took over? Prices of food stuff were not as high as they are today. Illogical reasoning The government keeps saying that the immediate past administration of Suswam looted the state. They keep dishing out conflicting figures, the Governor on the day of his inauguration said, N12 billion was looted, a short while after that he raised it to N60 billion, later N90 billion and later N107 billion. One cannot tell the figure they would later arrive at. The funny aspect of it all is that they keep saying that until the looted monies are returned the government cannot do anything, pay salaries or embark on development projects. Who will entertain such 

illogical reasoning? 

This is a government that had promised so many things and rolled out a vision upon which it had aspired to rule the state. The question is, was it anticipating to execute its programmes upon the finances that had accrued to the previous administration? Nowhere in the world is that ever done. What is happening to the funds that are coming to the coffers of this government in its own time? This is a government that has borrowed so much in less than two years. 

The Governor himself admitted that his government within this period had borrowed N53 billion. Everyone in this state knows that very serious looting is taking place under this government. How can that same government turn around to accuse the PDP of looting and as such getting us into the situation that we are in? It doesn’t hold water anywhere. 

This government should give an account of what has come to its coffers now that it is in charge for close to two years. By May they would be in the saddle for two years, the question is, is Benue better now than when the government took over? That is the cardinal question. The ordinary person in the street will certainly tell you that they are worse off now than when this government came on board. It is obviously not the fault of the PDP but because of the incompetence and fraudulent activities of this administration. 

Will the factionalisation of the party affect you in the forthcoming local government elections? 

There are no factions of the PDP in Benue. The ruling APC by very clear indications has failed the people. Now they are confronted with local government elections, ordinarily, they were not prepared to conduct the elections. They were forced by court actions of PDP and APC members that were aspiring to local government positions before the election process was truncated, last year. So they are not prepared for the election.  

Yaro

PDP baggage is holding us back — Yaro,

 APC chairman Comrade Abba Yaro is the Benue State APC chairman, in this interview he spoke on how Benue was looted by the immediate past administration, the possibility of Senator Ahmed Tinubu running in the 2019 presidential election, the travails of former Governor Suswam and many more.

ALMOST two years in office, do you think your party has delivered on its promises? 

Yes, we have been able to do that, we are all in Benue here, if you go round you’ll see for yourself the physical actualization of the promises made and the dreams this administration came with upon assumption of office. 

But the opposition PDP insists to the contrary? 

What do you expect from an opposition party, I was once an opposition chairman during which period we also made comments that the PDP was doing nothing. What do you expect? If you look around, all the challenges we are facing today are because the PDP bastardised the economy of this country. 

Look at what is happening within the ranks of the PDP. People are being caught with billions of naira and millions of foreign currencies in their houses and all that. That was the kind of government they ran for 16 years. 

What we met was like a house with a faulty foundation. So I don’t expect less criticism from the PDP. Look at what is happening to our former governor. 

What? 

Are you not aware that he was arrested by security agencies as head of a militia? He was found with guns and lots of other things. What was he doing with guns? People on the social media keep saying that he is a non violent person, but being in possession of guns is incriminating. If you are not a police man or security personnel you certainly don’t need guns especially when you have security personnel guarding you. It’s unfortunate! 

Many say your party is derailing at both the state and national levels? 

We are not derailing and I can assure you that we can never derail. The opposition party might say we are derailing. We are not derailing, we are focused and we know where we are going. We will not disappoint the people that voted for us. The people should be patient. 

Are you scared that defectors from the PDP into the APC might cause a problem for you? 

Our eyes are open, if they come and want to infiltrate our party in order to create problems we will not allow that. I used to tell my executives to shine their eyes, anyone coming from the PDP must queue behind us. That is why we are very careful with the way we handle political matters. 

Hallmark of a good politician

 Let me tell you, the immediate past governor of the state was my classmate at SBS Makurdi but I did not join that party because he was the governor. I remained in the opposition because I believed in the ideals of my party until God gave my party victory at the polls. That is the hallmark of a good politician. I can assure you that all those running from the PDP into the APC to create problems will certainly not succeed. 

You talk of patience but there are no jobs and salaries are delayed? 

It a very pathetic situation and it is actually not the fault of the ruling APC. The PDP bastardised the economy in such a way that they did not want anyone to survive it. Benue is not the only state owing salaries. PDP states also owe salaries. Bayelsa which is an oil rich state is also owing so are several PDP states. 

But Ortom campaigned with the promise of paying salaries as at when due? 

Do you know that you can spring surprises if you have resources to tackle challenges that require financial intervention? If we have enough financial backing the government can clear the backlog of salaries owed workers in a day. 

But the funds are not there. That is why we are insisting that the funds found to have been looted by the previous administration should be returned. If the government is able to get back that money we will clear all outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities. Aside that, a lot of infrastructural development would also take place in the state.

Culled from Vanguard Online 

''If we borrowed democracy from America,why can't we borrow ranching from them?''- Ortom's remarks at the coronation of Tor Tiv.[Read the full speech here]

* Excerpts from Governor Samuel Ortom's speech at the coronation of the Tiv Paramount Ruler, Tor Tiv the 5th, HRM, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, at JS Tarka Stadium, Gboko, on March 4, 2017.                               
"In recent years, Benue State has been confronted by security challenges, prominent amongst which is the invasion of our various communities by herdsmen, which often results in the killing of innocent people and destruction of property. This occasion therefore offers me the opportunity to once again, state the stance of government and people of Benue State on the issue of cattle rearing and the solution, to prevent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Today, we can see that the dignitaries that are here accepted to come despite all odds. Despite the fact that today we have a national programme going on in Otta, the celebration of our leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at 80, and most of these leaders here were invited, but they offered to be here in their numbers. It is deeply appreciated and it will not be fair for me to allow you go back thinking that all is well with us, here in Benue.

As I speak to you today, Benue State is under siege by herdsmen and it is the resolve of my government and the people of Benue State to make this passionate appeal to our leaders who are gathered here today to come and help us.

The reason we are agitating for cattle ranching instead of grazing is that the land is no longer same as it used to be in the 50s, when cattle routes were designated and grazing areas were carved.

Today, we are in Nigeria with a population of over a hundred and seventy million people by 2012 projection. If you ask me, by 2017, we should be hitting over two hundred million.

In the 50s, when cattle routes were carved, the total population of Nigeria was less than 40 million. But today, with the upsurge of population, we have seen an increase tremendously in human activities; schools, hospitals, settlements, market places, federal and state roads, and several other things.

Moreso that today, we are talking of diversifying the economy to other sectors, especially in agriculture where we have comparative advantage, it has become extremely difficult for us to marry grazing with farming.

It is the intention of my government to appeal to all of you that are here. I am happy that the Senate President is here, I am happy that the Speaker is here, House of Representative members and distinguished Senators are here, and my colleagues, the governors.

For us, we are saying that since the land has not increased from the 923,000 square kilometres that used to exist in the 50s, rather, it has decreased with the excision of Bakassi from Nigeria, let us collectively adopt ranching. Just like we borrowed the presidential system of government from America, why can't we borrow ranching from America and other parts of Europe and Asia? It is something that can be done!

For me and other Tiv people, an average Fulani man or herdsman is a friend; we are friends, we love them and we like living with them, but the challenge of land is a big problem to all of us. Let us work together by legislating to ensure that we have ranching in Nigeria, just like other parts of the world are doing, including parts of Africa; South Africa, Swaziland, Senegal and Kenya that have embraced it. We can do same here.

We keep appealing to our people to restrain themselves, no matter the provocation, whether by herdsmen or by farmers. Let us learn to live, working with the rule of law and due process - two wrongs will not make a right. Where there are breaches or trespasses, let them be reported to law enforcement agents.

We have set up committees at the state level, local government, ward and kindred levels, and we, at the state with all the security apparatus of the state are willing to confront all forms of trespasses and breaches and we will give you comfort when you come to us.

I look forward that all of you will reason with us, to help us out of the problems we have today. Today, we talk of no other issue than security issue, especially the clashes between herdsmen and farmers "

Special Adviser on Fulani Matters in Benue state assures of peace between farmers, herdsmen

The National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Garus Gololo, yesterday promised to ensure peaceful co-existence between Fulani herdsmen and the farmers in the state in order to end the protracted conflict.

Gololo, who is also the Special Adviser to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Fulani Matters stated this in an interview with New Telegraph in Makurdi, the state capital.

The governor’s aide hinted that though he spotted some flashpoints in most parts of the state since the return of the Fulani herdsmen last month, he has been working to ensure a crisis free atmosphere between herdsmen and Benue farmers.

He regretted the killing of farmers in some parts of the state such as Agatu and Gwer East Local Government Areas as a result of clashes between the warring parties, which he linked to a reprisal attacks by the Fulani herdsmen.

“In those areas that crisis took place, I have written a letter to the governor through his Adviser on Security for more security measures to be taken to forestall a re-occurrence,” Gololo said, adding that as part of measures to checkmate the excesses of the herdsmen in unleashing mayhem on the people, he had collected data of all the herdsmen in the state in order to monitor their activities.

Culled from New Telegraph 

Opinions: THE LIVING GRAVEYARD CALLED BENUE- by JAM THADDEUS ORDUEN(CEO MSDTAN INVESTMENT LTD)

Benue state now producing mainly negative products like highest HIV rankings, highest in prostitution, highest in cultism and many others. I will attempt to identify the problems, causes and possible solutions.

EDUCATION.

Our educational system is not structured in a way that will yield positive results but our people love to get educated as many consider education as the most important thing in live.

ISSUES

Tertiary – Most of our universities like BSU, UAM and UNI MKAR produce average third class graduates who don’t pass employment requirements of most organisations.


Secondly, students will have like two exams in one day with 5 questions which will carry children like 5a, 5b, 5c, and sometimes sub children again. Most of the times the lecturers will just come in just 2 weeks to exams and give them long notes. The fact is that, most average human brains cannot sussesfully retain such knowledge to answer those questions, except a genius. This is the cause of mass failures and high level of exam malpractice.


Concentration on character- our universities hunt students to get them expelled from school for certain reasons rather than moulding their characters to be useful to the society. This is why our schools will wait till you get to final year before they will expel you for exam malpractice case in 100 level.


Lack of practical education- a graduate of computer science in our universities will hold a computer and be shaking with it, not to mention engineering and many others courses as lecturers tell students to wait until they graduate to get real time practical experience on the job. But the essence is to prepare students for this jobs so as to improve the society.


Lack of clubs and societies in schools as most schools now prefer only Christian societies and consider others like dramatic satanic or worldly things, making most students with those interest to go for blackskuul,(BS) redskins(SKINNERS) for the boys and black bra and Ozaras( where nine people most have sex with a girl to became a member) for the girls. Places like Adikpo, Otukpo and Kastina-ala are notorious for this.

RESULTS


Large unemployment in Benue.


Most big companies in Benue prefer to hire other people from other states to handle technical matters in Benue.


Benue people are many in Abuja but get employed mostly as drivers and security Men.


Inferiority complex among Benue students.


Low ranking of our universities, preventing us from benefiting from many intervention funding’s from domestic and foreign organisations.


Cultism in our schools as frustrated students look for ways to be powerful in schools.


High level of prostitution in our schools.



SOLUTIONS


Lectures should stop twisting questions as the essence is for a student to understand the question and answer so we can have 70 first class graduates like Bayero University Kano.


Reduce the wickedness the school show to students and concentrate on things that matter because, most Benue students now take wickedness as a normal thing and the chain is geting bigger. Example of such is giving student’s twisted questions so that they will fail and then lectures will have advantage of having sex with most and getting kickbacks from others.


Concentrate of practical education.


Reduce the number of questions given to students for they don’t have computer brains.


The schools should implement the policy that most foreign universities do where students are given forms to fill and asked if they are satisfied with their lecturers and if many are not, the lecturers are sacked or re assigned. That will make the lecturers understand that, they are servants and will try to please students by doing what they are supposed to do.


Secondary schools should revive clubs and societies and also revive inter house competitions in schools, also arts festivals and science weeks should be revived in secondary schools.

RELIGION

Religion is an avenue where God,s knowledge is to be taught to people to become better people as God is light, light is power and power is the rate at which work is done, resulting to greater achievements and hence wealth. God is also love but the reverse is the case in Benue as religion has been used to preach hate among the people, enslave the people and get money out of them, bringing with it heaven poverty.

YORUBA SPRITUAL FATHERS- most of the churches our people call powerful spiritual churches has their root from the Yoruba land. Everybody has a spiritual father, including even the smaller or affiliate churches. They started be condemning the traditional catholic church of worshipping of Mary and NKST churches, they now bring doctrines which consider spiritual fathers as superior, given the fathers control over the whole congregation. They now control our state, control who gets contracts and even appointments in our dear state.

TEACHINGS OF HATE-the churches will tell you to watch out for an enemy within. This has cause fights within families, broken homes etc as wifes prefer to spend ten hours in churches to pray for the death of enemies rather than attend to their kids. Brothers are at war with each other because of suspicion of wizardly.

TEACHINGS OF PROSPERITY- these churches introduce dues like first fruits, different tights and so on and gather money from their congregation in retain of obtaining favours from God by chances. Testimonies of how a pastor prayed and suddenly an uncle called and gifted a car are many. The fact is that, our people where not known for such short cuts as now everybody just pray and wait for a miracle to happen without working for it.

RESULTS

WOSHIPING OF HUMANS- our culture was not to prostrate for anybody but you have a situation where people will go down on the floor to honour pastors and ask then to bless them. You see pictures of people greeting our politicians by sleeping on the floor. That is Yoruba culture and not Tiv or Idoma culture and not in our character. This results to withholding of the traditional liberty that our people had and speaking out against wrongs is considered a capital offence among our folks.

AWARD OF CONTRACTS- most contracts in Benue are awarded to people from other states as recommended by the spiritual fathers. This led to capital flights and low purchasing power among our people.

INCREASE IN WICKEDNESS and DEATHS- People now fear to give to others as they believe that their gift will end on others and will make them not to have more, so all is given to the alter of God in the Church. An ill person will be taken to the church for prayers till the person will die in the church. Lizards are now considered a trait as a person of God will testifies to satan sending a lizard to attack them leading to animal cruelty and so on.



DECREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY-people prefer to go for night prayers and sleep the next day when they are supposed to be working. They turn to award any disappointment to work of enemies rather than make efforts. This results to very low productivity among our people.

SOLUTIONS

Arts like dancing, music and so on is not satanic as God made everything for us and for our salvation and is made good by a word of Prayers. Stop teaching kids that music, arts and entertainment are satanic and worldly.

Secondly, people who make wealth don’t make it by chance as they work for their wealth. Also Illumination is the shinning of light and God is the only light that shine upon his children so let stop considering every great achiever as Illuminati and satanic. The bible even teaches that the lamb was worthy to receive the spirits of power, knowledge and understanding, wealth etc and cause people to become a kingdom of priest and they will reign on earth. So it not every wealthy person that made wealth from Satan and is worldly. Wealthiest Man in history is Solomon and his wealth was commanded from God.

Also, the bible ask us to work for our money. Let’s stop hating on people that they refuse to help tyo for everybody has his own challenges at every level they find themselves. Let’s go to work as government only cannot do it for us.





REVENUE

There is growing concern for dwindling revenue both from the federation account. This has given rise to rigid tax regimes by states to generate revenue for developmental purposes.

Danger

In Benue state, there is a case of multiple taxation as there is borehole tax, consruction tax, okada tax etc. This is good in terms of revenue generation but is not on the other hand encouraging private sector to thrive. This has made Benue state one of the most costly places to do business as even a shop goes for 120000 per annum compelled to Kano state where a similar shop goes for 50000.

Multiple tax and other expenditures like power generation couple with low market and hence low patronage is destroying the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), the engine of any economic growth anywhere in the world.

Results

The result is high unemployment rate and a lot of poverty in the land as everybody depends on government.

Again, this will not attract direct investment as even the igbos who used to see Benue as very lucrative for business are leaving the state. Also, indigenes of the state prefer to take their monies else where to invest, leading to capital flight.

Finally, this has created over dependency on government and salaries, hence the complaints and insults on the personality of the governor and other government officials.

Remedies

The government should partner with the federal ministry of trade and investment to create free trade zones in other to attract direct investment to the state. All companies in the trade zone most pay the same salary structure with the state government, reducing the pressure on government.

The government should harmonise tax to avoid multiple taxation.

The government should also relax some of the taxes especially borehole tax for private residence as people are already paying for power bills which they use to pump their water for their own convenience. Other similar taxes should also be relaxed.

The government should create big companies. One example is by merging the Benue agricultural development cooperation with the taraku mills, the tomato factory andjuice factory to create one big company. The government can then sell like 20% of its shares to raise money to get the factories operational again. This will employ many and will help reduce the current pressure on government.

Benue hotels- the government should convert the Benue house in Abuja and Lagos to a hotel and merge it with Benue hotel, also the international hotel by merged also, creating a bigger hotel chain where government can get extra revenue.

The government can get a 15billion bond representing 60% and partner with any foreign bank who will bring the remaining 10billion representing 40% to revitaliselobi bank. Imagine the number of jobs a bank can create for many Benue indigenes. Again, an indigenous bank can help finance mega projects as most current financial institution blacklist Benue with other states as not worthy of heavy financial involvement.

Finally, Benue universities graduate mostly third class graduates who don’t even qualify to apply for jobs as most employers prefer second class graduates. This situation should be checked.

Again, the government should convert all tertiary institutions in Benue to universities in other to benefit from Tetfund and other funding. This will reduce a lot of financial stress on the state.

Written by Jam Thaddeus Orduen 

Benue Investment & Property Company finally withdraws BENUE PLAZA from Midag Ltd.

Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, has formally withdrawn the Benue Plaza from Midag Limited. The property which is located on Bishop Oluwale Crescent Victoria Island Lagos was leased to Midag Limited under a lease agreement service for ten years, 2007-2017, which will lapse this year.

BIPC's General Manager Legal Services, Mr Prince Toryem and his Property Development and Management counterpart, Mr Terver Justines Wever who both represented the company during the handing over ceremony in Lagos described the exercise as timely, adding that "this has come at a time the new BIPC is restructuring and repositioning its investments for effective productivity and profitable returns to help the Benue State Govt improve its revenue generation especially in this time of economic challenges".

The Benue plaza Lagos which was established for decent accommodation and relaxation is to commence redevelopment to a standard high rise structure of about 10 storey. The Infrastructure Bank had late 2016 signed an MOU with BIPC to commence redevelopment of the property.

Pictures from Gov Ortom's visit to Taraba state.

Benue state Gov Samuel Ortom today  03.02.2017 visited Taraba state ,He was received on arrival at Dogon Gawa village, near Takum by a large crowd accompanied by Gov Jairus Ishaku.