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Tag: Governor Samuel Ortom

  • PDP has Repositioned Itself to Capture Power in 2023 General Elections – Gov Ortom

    PDP has Repositioned Itself to Capture Power in 2023 General Elections – Gov Ortom

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says the People’s Democratic party (PDP) is on the verge of repositioning itself preparatory to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 2023 general elections.

    The Governor who spoke to Journalists at the Makurdi Airport shortly after returning from Abuja where he attended the meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum to resolve it’s Internal squabbles to build confidence in Nigerians.

    According to Ortom another meeting of the party is slated for tomorrow to draw up programs that would ensure the success of the national convention scheduled to hold in October this year.

    He contended that PDP has concluded arrangements to complete its Congresses in various states of the Federation before the convention, stating that at the last meeting there was an acting national Chairman of the party that presided over the meeting.

  • Blackmail Can’t Stop The Truth, Gov Ortom Replies Presidency

    Blackmail Can’t Stop The Truth, Gov Ortom Replies Presidency

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on ending the increasing killings of innocent Nigerians instead of “using his foot soldiers” to attack him for saying the truth.

    Ortom told journalists in Makurdi that the statement released by the Presidency in response to his (Ortom) recent interview on Channels Television lacked substance.

    He said he spoke the minds of many Nigerians on specific areas of failure of the presidency.

    “The tone of the said statement shows the quality of Presidency Nigeria currently has. They abandoned the message and went for the messenger.”

    “To describe as ‘undistinguished’, the career of a man who has held many key positions at the state and national levels proves that those who penned the piece were under the influence of some negative substances.

    “We advise the Presidency to focus on ending the killing of innocent Nigerians, fix the economy as it promised and stop the stinking corruption under their watch.

    “They can’t run away from their responsibility. They were brought to power to serve the country not to oppress the people and suppress their freedom of speech. They are on record to have publicly promised during their campaigns before the 2015 elections that they would respect the rights and freedoms of Nigerians if elected. Sadly, what the people of this country have got from the current government is the opposite of that promise,” he said.

    The governor added that, “for the information of Garba Shehu and his cohorts, Governor Ortom rose to become a Local Government Chairman, State Publicity Secretary of National Centre Party of Nigeria; State Treasurer of All People’s Party, State Secretary as well as State Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Auditor of PDP, Minister of the Federal Republic and now a two-term Governor.”

    He alleged that the presidency is complicit in the heinous crimes committed against citizens by terrorists, stressing that, instead of taking him (Governor) on those points, Shehu went chasing vain and mundane matters in a desperate attempt to malign him.

    “We demand an apology from the Presidency for accusing Governor Ortom of stirring ethnic tensions and calling for genocide. The Presidency has never hidden its hatred for the Governor and its latest outing only confirms that fact.”

    “We are aware of the Presidency’s plot to cause crisis in Benue and make the state ungovernable and declare a state of emergency. Whenever each of their plans fails as it happened with the impeachment attempt on the Governor before the 2019 elections, they resort to cheap blackmail.

    “They accuse Governor Ortom of making a law to chase Fulanis out of Benue; a claim that lacks substance and only goes to prove that they have not read the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state. They can’t justify their narrative that Governor Ortom hates Fulanis when some of his appointees are Fulani.

    “The Presidency must realise that no amount of blackmail and media attack can discourage the Governor from speaking against the injustice and pain the present government has caused Nigerians. No amount of sponsored smear campaigns against the Governor can force him to repeal the law on open grazing of cattle in Benue State.

    “Governor Ortom stands by his words that this is not the first time a Fulani man is President of Nigeria, and also that it is the first time the country has been divided on ethnic lines with lopsided appointments in promotion and celebration of nepotism, marginalization and open repugnance of other Nigerians. At no time in the history of this country have impunity, blatant disregard for laws, sectarian as well as ethnic differences been fueled by the government as we now see,” he added.

  • JUST IN: NBC Threatens To Sanction Channels TV Over Ortom Interview

    JUST IN: NBC Threatens To Sanction Channels TV Over Ortom Interview

    The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has threatened to sanction Channels Television over an interview granted by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

    In an interview he granted Channels Television on Tuesday, Ortom described President Muhammadu Buhari as the worst in terms of insecurity.

    He also accused the president of nepotism, saying he has a hidden agenda.

    “Mr President is pushing me to think that what they say about him, that he has a hidden agenda in this country is true. Because it is very clear that he wants to Fulanise the country, but he is not the first Fulani president.

    “Shagari was a Fulani President, Yar’ Adua was a Fulani President, and they were the best in history. But President Buhari is the worst President when it comes to issues of security and keeping his promises.”

    The presidency, through Malam Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, had hit back at Ortom, accusing him of inciting the country.

    In a letter dated August 24, 2021, Balarabe Shehu Illela, Director-General of the NBC, asked Channels Television to explain why sanctions should not be taken against it for broadcasting a programme capable of inciting violence.

    The commission, which gave Channels 24 hours to respond to its query, said the television station clearly breached the NBC code.

  • Gov Ortom Lauds INEC Over Creation of Additional Polling Units in Benue State

    Gov Ortom Lauds INEC Over Creation of Additional Polling Units in Benue State

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has put the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a pat on the back for creating adding polling Units in the state.

    The Governor gave the commendation in Guma Local Government Area, during revalidation of his voter card at the Tse Ortom polling unit following split of his former unit.

    Ortom whostressed that the unit was closer to his family residence, Implored the people to find out from the Commission which is responsible for the exercise about their polling Units to enable them revalidate their voters cards.

    He noted that the creation of more units has brought development closer to the people as it would make voting easier. He urged the people who are eighteen years of age and above to register in the polling centers nearest to them.

    The Governor explained that the voter card was the only weapon through which the people could vote in credible leaders and vote out those who performed abysmally.

  • Gov Ortom Again Rejects Grazing Routes by FG, Insists on Anti Open Grazing

    Gov Ortom Again Rejects Grazing Routes by FG, Insists on Anti Open Grazing

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has again rejected grazing routes being reviewed by the Federal Government, stating that the global standard was Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

    The Governor who spoke in Gboko on Friday insisted that his administration would not accept Federal Government’s review of grazing routes.

    According to Ortom, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, he was bound by the Constitution of Nigeria to be in custody of land in Benue, stressing that the Federal Government might seek approval to undertake any project.

    The Governor contended that President Muhammadu Buhari in view of grazing routes had taken the invasion agenda to the next level after attempting to introduce some policies without result.

    He expressed optimism that the President was not aware of a committee to review grazing routes was constituted, adding however that if he gave it a backing, it was dead on arrival in Benue State.

  • Jos Killings: No Plans to Evacuate Benue Students from UNI-Jos, Says Gov Ortom

    Jos Killings: No Plans to Evacuate Benue Students from UNI-Jos, Says Gov Ortom

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has ruled out the possibility of evacuating students of Benue origin who are currently undergoing studies at the University of Jos, Plateau State following the recent attack on the state capital where over thirty persons were reportedly killed.

    Ortom who made this known at the Government House Makurdi on Wednesday while briefing Newsmen, explained that Benue State Government is monitoring, stressing that it is on top of the situation.

    “We have to follow due process, we can’t just go and evacuate our students there. Plateau State Government has assured us that it is doing everything possible to protect lives and property”.

    Also speaking, Commissioner of Education in Benue State, Prof Dennis Ityavyar said he spoke with the Vice Chancellor of the institution who warned that any student who leave the campus does so at his or her own risk.

    He averred that the President of NUBESS corroborated the position of the VC saying that the school authority has not allowed the students to leave, so evacuating Benue Students from the University was not good enough.

  • Gov Ortom Promises to Uplifts Benue Youths, as World Marks International Youths Day

    Gov Ortom Promises to Uplifts Benue Youths, as World Marks International Youths Day

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has restated his administration’s commitment to accord top priority programs that seek to empower youths of the state.

    Ortom in a message of solidarity to the Youths through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase on the occasion of the World International Youths Day, contended that last year’s End SARS protest calls for Governments at all levels to address the plight of youths in the country.

    The Governor posited that it was in the bid to find solutions to the yearnings of the Youths in the state that his administration organized the 2020 Benue Youths Summit which came up with laudable recommendations.

    He assured that the recommendations of the summit would be implemented, assuring that more plans are underway to engage the youths positively in the state.

    The Governor who described the theme of this year’s International Youths Day which is ” Training food systems, Youths Innovation as timely, restated his Government’s commitment towards encouraging the youths to take advantage of the numerous activities of government in agric and entrepreneurship to become self employed.

    Ortom stressed that the present administration under his watch would sustain partnership with the private sector to create jobs for the youths of the state, even as he enjoined them to eschew acts that could destroy their future.

  • No More Cold War Among PDP Members -Gov Ortom, says Party is Prepared for Victory in future elections

    No More Cold War Among PDP Members -Gov Ortom, says Party is Prepared for Victory in future elections

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State says the cold war which brewed within the People’s Democratic party, PDP, recently has been amicably resolved.

    Briefing Journalists at the Makurdi Airport shortly after returning from Abuja where he attended an expanded Stakeholders meeting of the party, Ortom assured of the PDP’s preparedness to win future elections.

    The Governor noted that the party has vowed to remain resolute despite being intimidated and blackmailed by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that PDP is fully prepared to wrestle power from the former in 2023 general elections.

    He pointed out that the party has learned from its past mistakes and will serve as a beacon of hope for the country’s democracy, stressing that PDP has the capacity to provide a better alternative.

    Ortom said the Governors elected on the platform of the party have remained united in promoting the interest of PDP above personal issues.

  • My Administration Won’t Allow Benue People Turn Into Slaves – Gov Ortom

    My Administration Won’t Allow Benue People Turn Into Slaves – Gov Ortom

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State says his administration would not allow the people of the state to be made slaves under the watch of the All Progressives Congress’s led Federal Government.

    The Governor made this declaration at the Government House Makurdi when he received on a courtesy visit, the former Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, Mrs Mimi Orubibi who recently defected from the opposition APC to the PDP.

    Ortom maintained that it was by God’s grace and prayers of the Benue citizens that has prevented the people from being attacked and killed by those who vowed to take over the state.

    He lauded Mrs Mimi Orubibi and her teeming supporters over decision to dump the APC for the ruling PDP which he said has the bright future to lead the country and give Nigerians purposeful leadership in 2023.

    Ortom assured Mrs Urubibi and her teeming supporters of equal opportunities in the PDP, adding that the party is capable of accommodating more members.

    In her remarks, Mrs Mimi Orubibi contended that their decision to dump the party was due to the fact that PDP has demonstrated high capacity for leadership.

  • PDP is Waxing Stronger in Benue State Following Arrays of Defectors into the party – Gov Ortom

    PDP is Waxing Stronger in Benue State Following Arrays of Defectors into the party – Gov Ortom

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that the People’s Democratic party, PDP, in state is waxing stronger following arrays of defection from the opposition political parties into the party.

    Ortom who spoke at the Government House Makurdi during the Party’s expanded caucus meeting, Implored members to remain steadfast, even as he tasked them to open their arms to receive the defectors.

    The Governor posited that the vote of confidence passed on him would spur him to do more for the people of the state, stating that the decision of the party has strengthened and encouraged him.

    Ortom enjoined governorship aspirants on the platform of the party to work together for interest of the PDP devoid of parochial interest.

    Earlier in his remarks, the State Chairman of the party, Mr John Ngbede said the party has total confidence in the ability of the Governor to lead the party to victory in the 2023 general elections.

    He contended that those aspiring to govern Benue State on the Party’s platform has the task of ensuring that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law is sustained to stamp out insecurity and avoid foreigners to occupy the Benue valley.