Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue
State, has disclosed that, he would not seek for a re-election in 2019, until
he heard from God, to do so.
This was even as, he expressed
optimism that, no one could stop him from becoming the executive Governor of
Benue State in 2019, if God asked him to seek re-election.
Apparently reacting to calls from
youth groups and some stakeholders, asking him to contest for a second term,
Governor Ortom said, whatever becomes of his ambition in 2019 was in the hand
of God, adding that, it was God who asked him to contest in the first place.
He said God had shown him a
vision in 1992 that he was going to be a Governor in Benue State, which became
manifested 23 years after.
“I saw vision in 1992 and God asked me to go and become the Governor of Benue State. I attempted to become Governor in 2012 but it was not possible until in 2015 when God said it was time.
“If God directs me that I should go for a second term, no one can stop me. But if God has not spoken, I won’t re-contest”, he said.
He, however, described as
“distraction”, the pressure from some quarters for his re-election, saying he
was barely 2 years in office and the development of the state was his utmost
priority.
Talking about his achievements so
far in 2 years in office, the Governor said, “one of the achievements of this
government is that, we have been able to curb insecurity.
“Before we came in, there were insecurity here and there – kidnapping, robbery, cultism and all that; but through our amnesty programme, over 900 criminals surrendered their weapons and we are now living in peace”.
The Governor said, in addition to
the plastic industry and cassava processing plants, his government also
concession the Otukpo burnt brick to a foreign company, waiting their arrival;
adding that, arrangements were also underway to revamp the Igumale Cement
Company.
On the implementation of the Anti
Grazing and Anti Cultism Law recently passed by the State Assembly, Governor
Ortom said, machineries were already in place to ensure herdsmen and others
obey the law, vowing that those caught violating the law would be sanctioned.
Ortom said, “there shall be special guards to support security agencies and the local vigilante group shall also support them”.
He said, more cell facilities
were being constructed at the Makurdi Prisons and as from November 2017, any
one who breaks the law shall be thrown into the prison, after conviction.
The Governor assured the herdsmen
and those interested in ranching, that the state would provide land and
adequate security for them, calling on the federal government to also give
subsidy to help the ranching policy and encourage those participating in it.
While answering questions on the
recently flagged off yam exportation to Europe, the Governor said the
initiative would provide job opportunities to teeming graduates in Benue, in
areas of production, packaging and marketing.
He allayed the fears that there
would be shortage of food if the exportation continues, adding that, Benue
currently contributes about 46% of total yam production in Nigeria and with the
recent development, the production would increase to over 60%.
Ortom, in his response to the
ongoing ASUU strike at the state owned university, said the government was
already talking with the striking lecturers and that the industrial action
would soon come to an end.
The Governor, however, expressed displeasure over the conduct of the lecturers. According to him, “their grudge is about the 6 years accumulated allowances by the past administration. They were on strike before we came in, and we had to intervene before they resumed work”.
He said, despite the meagre
resources available to him, every month he coughs out the sum of N570m to the
institution, whereas, Ebonyi State University gets only N200m from the
government, while Nasarawa State University gets just N180m monthly from the
state government.
On the issue of non payment of
salaries to workers in the state, the Governor said, he was able to control the
payment, by paying one full month salary within two months, based on the
understanding his government had with the various union groups in the state.
Despite what he described as
“shortfall in allocations and IGR”, the Governor said he was able to manage the
payment of salaries so that workers won’t embark on strike.
He said the government now owes
local government workers 8 months and state workers 6 months.
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