President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, for his commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian workers.
According to the President, Dr, Ngige has continually been “creating employment opportunities, stimulating a healthy working relationship between employers and employed, leading negotiations between unions and government, and putting the interest of workers first, especially for their wages, salaries and allowances.”
In a birthday wish for the minister, who turns 70 today, August 8, the President, in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, acknowledged the foresight, sacrifice and insight of Dr. Ngige in labour laws.
He also acknowledged the minister’s penchant for excellence which drives his interest to always motivate and breed leaders, leaving a legacy of hard work in Anambra State as a governor.
The President recalled that Ngige, as governor, left landmark achievements in infrastructural development, inclusive governance that greatly inspired grassroots participation and accountability that was dubbed: “Anambra people’s money working for the people.”
The President rejoiced with Ngige, who he described as “political leader” that had made many strides and achievements, including impactful governance at both state and national levels.
He said that Ngige brought a lot of passion, zeal and diligence into every responsibility, starting out as a civil servant, with distinguished record of work at National Assembly and State House Clinics, before venturing into politics in 1999, where he has served as party chieftain, governor and senator.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has declared oil theft in the country a national emergency, with about 400,000 barrels of crude stolen daily.
The minister explained that the massive crude theft is greatly affecting Nigeria’s capacity to meet OPEC daily quota, saying that the huge loss could cripple the nation’s economy.
The minister, who was in Owerri, Imo State today, August 8, said that Nigeria has now fell from 1.8 million barrels export allocation to 1.4 million barrels.
He told his host, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that local collaboration is needed to stop the economic bleeding as Abuja could not do it alone.
“This is because the thefts are taking place in the communities that host the oil pipelines,” Sylva said. “As a result, it has become necessary to involve the stakeholders, especially the host communities.”
Imo hosts a sizable amount of Nigeria’s oil deposits.
Responding, the governor gave assurance that his administration would sustain its efforts to arrest the economic sabotage being perpetrated by pipeline vandals.
He described the consequences of crude theft as “very alarming and too much to be tolerated.”
The meeting was part of the nationwide intervention efforts to curb crude oil theft.
At a reception on Sunday, August 7th, 2022, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, confirmed his plan to submit an application, to seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for license to procure AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, to be able to arm the newly-established Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.
Governor Ortom told his audience, that he didn’t contravene the Nigerian Constitution, in passing the law which established the new praetorian guard outfit; it was designed to assist the conventional security agencies in the fight against crime, in Benue State. He went further, that “as long as we make laws that are not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are right, in establishing the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards”.
There’s not much one can disagree with, in Governor Ortom’s statements, so far. Afterall, many states have similarly established all kinds of security outfits, commensurate with their assessment of their peculiar security needs. There’s the Civilian JTF in several parts of North-Eastern Nigeria, assisting the Nigerian Armed Forces, to confront the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as the more deadly ISWAP. The Southwest States have bandied together, to establish what they call AMOTEKUN.
But with Governor Samuel Ortom in Benue State, in these and related matters, the devil is ALWAYS in the detail. He further told the gathering on Sunday, that although the law which established his new security outfit empowers it to carry certain categories of weapons, “there was a compelling need for them to bear AK-47 and AK-49 to match what the Fulani terrorists have that are killing the people of the state”.
Just about a week earlier, at the launch of the 500-person strong Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, Governor Samuel Ortom, looked very much the part, dressed almost like an old African military dictator; and looked very much like the late Central African Republic’s old dictator, General Jean Bedel Bokassa. And to show how determined he was to give the praetorian guard a semblance of martial seriousness, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, did an inspection of the Guard; he even regularly stopped along the inspection, to adjust the epaulette on the uniforms of those he inspected. Certainly, even the old dictator, Bokassa, would have applauded his Benue clone!
We might have joined in enjoying the joke of a democratically-elected Governor’s martial induction, except that this was a very serious affair. “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom meant business; and that business is war; or preparation for war! And if other Nigerians are not thinking of a war, then that’s their business! In Benue State, a “Field Marshall” has arisen, whose openly declared intention, was broadcast on live television.
The CHANNELS TV reporter on ground at the ceremony, asked a question, which went straight to the heart of “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom’s main thesis, the raison d’etre for the new Benue State Community Volunteer Guard. He stated clearly, and I quote him verbatim: “Today, we are sending a message, that Benue State is ready to confront the Fulanis from Niger, from Mali, from Senegal, from Mauritania, from Libya, from Camroun, who want to take over Nigeria as their land”.
When these different groups of the Fulbe decided to “take over Nigeria as their land”, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom did not tell his listeners and viewers. Rational discourse isn’t necessary in such instances, because the man cannot win anyone with a rational talk; what’s important, is to whip up the most base emotions. It’s not the Nigerian Federal Government, that’s declaring a war against a people, who happen to be spread across West Africa, the Fulbe; but a subnational state, in this case, Benue State, and its Governor!
“Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom wasn’t done though. He added in response to the allegation that the Fulbe from at least five West African, and one North African, countries, “want to take over Nigeria as their land”, that “we are going to stop it. We did it 2004 and we are going to do it again”. The interviewer requested to know how effective we’re the laws passed against open grazing of cattle in Benue; to the question, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom effusively retorted that: “We have prosecuted; convinced over 400 Fulani herdsmen who have besieged the state. We have impounded over 24, 000 heads of cattle. Those who paid fines, we released (their cattle) to them. Those who did not pay, we were able to auction (their) cattle. That’s what the law says”.
On his new Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, he stated that “this is another phase of ensuring that we secure our land…I AM READY TO GO TO WAR…Enough is enough; we must secure our land…WE ARE READY TO WAGE WAR AGAINST THIS EVIL THAT IS COMING AGAINST US…We stand strong and are committed, and are ready to spill the last pint of our blood, to ensure the security of lives and property in Benue State”.
This is the broad background, against which “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, openly declared that he would seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s “favourable consideration”, for the license to procure high grade assault rifles, to satisfy his “compelling need” for his Volunteer Guards, “to match what the Fulani terrorists have…”. And what better person to approve the arms to fight and (possibly carry out a potential genocidal cleansing of the Fulbe from Benue State, than a President, of Fulbe extraction, Muhammadu Buhari! I can imagine that the absurd irony of it all, isn’t lost to “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom.
The Fulbe have become the ultimate “strawman” for “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom; and the most ready one to flog, as a diversion from what many observers of Benue politics, have described as the most wasted years, in the recent history of governance in Benue State. But that’s just one side of the story.
The most dangerous aspect of Ortom’s rhetorics and action, is the systematic manner that he has attempted to cleanse the Fulbe, from Benue. That is along with the setting of communities against each other; the manner that his implementation of Anti-Open Grazing Laws have deprived several communities of the Fulbe, of their livelihood, and in turn, helping to deepen the insecurity that he alleges to be fighting.
It is clear that his approach hasn’t built trust, between the Fulbe and other communities, in Benue State. It is the reason for the establishment of a praetorian guard. As well as his incredible decision, to seek approval to arm them with the AK-47 and AK-49 assault rifles. These only gi to confirm what he stated loudly: “I AM READY FOR WAR”! The only line he kept in his mind would be th logical one, being ready to finish off the Fulbe Benue State! The red herring of the Fulani, as the implacable enemy that he must confront, has conveniently been used to divert attention from the maladministration, that’s alleged to be the lot of Benue State.
A certain Angula Bishop Reuben, recently posted a piece on several online platforms, which compared Borno State, under Professor Zulum and Benue State under “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom.
Reuben noted that: ” After one year in office, Ortom renovated the School of Nursing and Midwives, Makurdi, Benue State, and empowered the youths with plenty of wheelbarrows to hustle”. He added that: “some of his notable achievements after seven years include the failed Amnesty Program; the enactment of the Anti-Opening Grazing Law with a faulty implementation; the construction of less than 1 km of roads in the state capital; the commissioning of a single borehole in Kwande; and the conversion of the Cargo Airport signage to IDP Mega City”.
Reuben was not done: “The achievements of Governor Samuel Ortom in seven years look like the achievements of councilors in the South. This is very shameful to say the least”.
On a final note, Anugla Bishop Reuben summed up the years, under “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom thus: “Benue State has become a brewery of hunger, poverty, unemployment, corruption, and underdevelopment under the leadership of Governor Samuel Ortom despite earning close to 1 trillion Naira through monthly allocation disbursed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), alongside the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), loans, bailout funds, Paris Club Refund, and other sources from June 2015 to December, 2021.
“Yet our governor still owes teachers more than 13 months in arrears; 8 months for state civil servants; 12 months for local government staff; and 6 years for local government pensioners.
Yet Benue State is still struggling with a very high debt profile and insecurity despite receiving millions of security votes to protect the Benue people”.
“This clearly demonstrates that our Governor is the laziest public servant in Nigeria; he sits idle and waits for federal allocation from Abuja every month, unable to think outside the box in addressing our numerous challenges.”
This unwholesome backdrop, might just be a very convenient reason, why the “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, has chosen to carefully rev up the anti-Fulani discourse. It has proved a winner in the past; able to divert attention from the ineptitude in governance. A year to the end of an eight-year tenure, might just become a new opportunity to mount again, the old hobby horse of anti-Fulani hysteria, by the “Field Marshall”, Governor Samuel Ortom.
Okene Local Council Chairman in Kogi State, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Muhammad has organized a search for those who killed and burn to ashes, a suspected mentally derailed man over fake news spread about him. The deceased was reportedly murdered in Okengwe axis of Okene Local Government yesterday, August 7, having being accused of being a ritualist who uses diabolical means to kidnap people, especially children. The angry Council chairman, in a statement through his spokesman, Abdulmumin Abubakar, accused the killers of the madman for carrying out the action without recourse to the laws of the land or inform the appropriate government officials. “The youths acted on fake information to execute the alleged criminal and burn him to ashes before the arrival of security agencies.” He therefore “directed security agencies to carry out investigation on the unfortunate incidence while the District head of Okengwe, some ward heads and community leaders were invited to make statements for the negligence of their responsibilities.” Abdulrazak stressed that preliminary investigation indicates that the information that led to the murder of the madman was fake, saying that further investigation will revealed the identities of all those who masterminded the jungle justice and will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. “Youths of Okene local government and the general public are hereby caution on the spread of fake news. People are advised to verify every security information and reports same to government for appropriate action.”
Police moved quickly to douse the flame of anger and uprising of commercial motorcycle riders, known as okada riders today, August 8 on the Airport road in Abuja. A statement by the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, narrated that today, 8th August 2022 at about 11:30 am, reports of civil unrest broke out around the Airport express road near Gosa market in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). The statement said that the incident which soon attracted many false narratives was merely an uncultured display of dissatisfaction by commercial Motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada who took to the streets burning tyres and other substances, following the activities of the Task Force who had earlier confiscated some motorcycles for certain violations. It said that upon the receipt of the information, Police Operatives from Iddo Divisional Police Headquarters were swiftly drafted to the scene where necessary measures were taken to restore peace and normalcy to the situation. “Consequent upon the above, Members of the public are urged to eschew the generation and promulgation of fake news or contrary narratives and to go about the discharge of their lawful businesses without the fear of harassment or molestation of any kind or from any quarters.” The statement said that the monitoring and surveillance have commenced on the scene even as effort is ongoing to arrest miscreants responsible for the disturbance of public peace. It said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Babaji Sunday has reassured the residents of the command’s unflinching commitment to bringing crime and criminality to the barest minimum. It warned that the burning of combustible material on Tarred road would be treated as vandalization of Government properties and the full wrath of the law will be meted out on erring person(s). It advised the residents to continue to partner with the police as touching the prompt, concise and accurate rendition of information through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883. It added that the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk can also be reached on 0902 222 2352.
Combined military forces, especially the Air Force and ground fighters, have launched multiple attacks on terrorist hideouts in and around the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to credible intelligence, threats within Abuja are being orchestrated by terrorists from their hideouts within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
“In view of this, NAF aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch were dispatched to undertake intensive air interdiction operation to degrade/neutralize the terrorists within their identified hideouts in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chikun LGA in Kaduna State and Kusasu, Kwaki and Kukere LGA in Niger State.
“So far, the identified locations hit by NAF aircraft include Jan Birni, Kusasu, Kauwuri, Kwaki, Ukambo Hill within the Kwiambana Forest as well as Alhaji Chorki Location.
“These locations have been attacked decisively and were struck in successive passes until they went into flames, some casualties who were spotted to be struggling to scamper for safety were effectively mopped up,” a military air commander added.
The operations were aimed at stopping them from further planning to cause mayhem within Kaduna and Niger States as well as surroundings around the Federal Capital Territory.
When contacted on the latest developments, the Spokesperson of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said that the successes of the air strikes underscored the indefectible commitment of the military to rid the entire Northern region as well as the FCT of terrorism in collaboration with other security agencies and restoring peace and sanity.
“Operational commanders have also been told to sustain the momentum and ensure they minimize, to the barest minimum, the freedom of movement of terrorists and insurgents.”
After months of evading security forces, a notorious armed bandit warlord, Abdulkareem Lawal, and 27 others have been eliminated by aggressive bombardments of the Nigerian military airstrikes in Katsina State.
Abdulkareem Lawal, who is popularly called Abdulkareem Boss, by his criminal colleagues, was a high-valued target on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while.
The precision airstrikes came barely a week after the Service Chiefs, at the last National Security Council meeting, reassured President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians that there would be a change in strategy and momentum in the fight against insurgency and terrorism. The Chief of the Air Staff directed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operational and air component commanders to ‘show no mercy’ in decimating terrorists and insurgents in the country.
The wanted criminal was based in the Marina area of Safana Local Government Area, and was responsible for several terrorist attacks, animal rustling and kidnappings.
Boss was known to regularly invite terrorist groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets.
Specifically, he was part of the terrorist group that carried out attacks that eventually led to the death of the Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin Ma on 5 July, 2022.
Confirming the killing of Abdulkareem Boss, an intelligence military officer, said that the terror kingpin was neutralized in a precision strike alongside 27 of his foot soldiers, at Rugu Forest.
Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, Professor Chuwumerije Okereke, has warned that with the rise in sea level, an estimated 53 million people in the country are currently facing severe flooding and need to be relocated. He said flooding is already affecting 25 million people now.
According to him, Coastal settlements like Bonny, Forcados, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar are at risk with vast amounts of oil infrastructure.
“In Yenagoa, there are 302,782 people estimated to be exposed to high flood risk along the Niger-Benue basin in the Niger Delta area with 630km of land susceptible to flooding.
“In Lagos, 375,000 people are exposed to flooding; the number will increase to about 3.2 million people by 2050.
“The direct estimate of damage and loss is N1.48 trillion. The total damage and loss, including indirect ones due to flooding is about N2.6 trillion,” Mr Okereke said.
The environmental expert says climate change will cost Nigeria $460 billion by 2050, if action is not taken to mitigate its effects.
”Climate change is costing Nigeria already $100 billion per annum. And that this amount will rise to about $460 billion per annum by 2050.
“And this represents a huge amount of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“From 2020 till now, climate change is already costing N15 trillion, representing two to 11 per cent of the GDP, by 2050 climate change will be costing N69 trillion, representing six to 30 per cent of the GDP,” he said.
The expert, who is also a visiting professor at Oxford University, urged the government to action many of its ‘fascinating’ climate policies.
“So, we have a situation where we have a lot of various policies, documents, but very limited action on the ground and this worries me because I have been shouting that climate change poses an existential threat to Nigeria,” Mr Okereke said.
“We need to inject a lot of finance and a lot of action to stem the problem of climate change.”
Nigeria’s Federal Government is worried that after releasing 30 detained terrorists in compliance with an agreement with the gang leaders, they have refused to honour their side of the agreement by releasing all the kidnapped passengers in an Abuja-Kaduna train attack on March 28, this year.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that there was an agreement between the government and the leadership of the terror group behind the attack to swap the abducted train passengers with some arrested terrorists held in detention by Nigerian security agencies.
A highly-placed source in one of the intelligence agencies in Abuja said that the government took every possible step, but not including ransom payment to secure the release of the train hostages.
The source, who declined to give his name explained that the government adopted a swapping deal for the rescue of the train victims to avoid likely collateral damages from military operations.
According to him, the security service in an exchange programme released at least 30 detained family members of terrorists, mostly women and children.
“In fact, a spouse who delivered twins in custody safely was handed over to her parents.”
But rather than abiding by the swapping deal, the terrorists, the source said, reneged and only released eleven passengers instead of all the 63 kidnapped victims
“Apart from reneging on the agreement, they were releasing victims in batches in the most dubious and compromising manner.
“They are now exploiting the situations to extort victims’ families for ransom payments, while other elements are exploiting the same for political gains.
“They are aware that we have the exact coordinates of their locations but we are not authorised to strike because of the fear of collateral damages that could trigger massive outcry by human rights activists and even the media if we succeed in doing so,” the source concluded.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi held a close-door with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongman and former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose in a closed-door in Lagos today, August 7.
Although it’s currently not clear the reason for the meeting, but it might be unconnected with Obi’s ambition to be President.
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“Field Marshal” Samuel Ortom, Benue Guards And The Fulbe, By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu
At a reception on Sunday, August 7th, 2022, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, confirmed his plan to submit an application, to seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for license to procure AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, to be able to arm the newly-established Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.
Governor Ortom told his audience, that he didn’t contravene the Nigerian Constitution, in passing the law which established the new praetorian guard outfit; it was designed to assist the conventional security agencies in the fight against crime, in Benue State. He went further, that “as long as we make laws that are not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are right, in establishing the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards”.
There’s not much one can disagree with, in Governor Ortom’s statements, so far. Afterall, many states have similarly established all kinds of security outfits, commensurate with their assessment of their peculiar security needs. There’s the Civilian JTF in several parts of North-Eastern Nigeria, assisting the Nigerian Armed Forces, to confront the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as the more deadly ISWAP. The Southwest States have bandied together, to establish what they call AMOTEKUN.
But with Governor Samuel Ortom in Benue State, in these and related matters, the devil is ALWAYS in the detail. He further told the gathering on Sunday, that although the law which established his new security outfit empowers it to carry certain categories of weapons, “there was a compelling need for them to bear AK-47 and AK-49 to match what the Fulani terrorists have that are killing the people of the state”.
Just about a week earlier, at the launch of the 500-person strong Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, Governor Samuel Ortom, looked very much the part, dressed almost like an old African military dictator; and looked very much like the late Central African Republic’s old dictator, General Jean Bedel Bokassa. And to show how determined he was to give the praetorian guard a semblance of martial seriousness, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, did an inspection of the Guard; he even regularly stopped along the inspection, to adjust the epaulette on the uniforms of those he inspected. Certainly, even the old dictator, Bokassa, would have applauded his Benue clone!
We might have joined in enjoying the joke of a democratically-elected Governor’s martial induction, except that this was a very serious affair. “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom meant business; and that business is war; or preparation for war! And if other Nigerians are not thinking of a war, then that’s their business! In Benue State, a “Field Marshall” has arisen, whose openly declared intention, was broadcast on live television.
The CHANNELS TV reporter on ground at the ceremony, asked a question, which went straight to the heart of “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom’s main thesis, the raison d’etre for the new Benue State Community Volunteer Guard. He stated clearly, and I quote him verbatim: “Today, we are sending a message, that Benue State is ready to confront the Fulanis from Niger, from Mali, from Senegal, from Mauritania, from Libya, from Camroun, who want to take over Nigeria as their land”.
When these different groups of the Fulbe decided to “take over Nigeria as their land”, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom did not tell his listeners and viewers. Rational discourse isn’t necessary in such instances, because the man cannot win anyone with a rational talk; what’s important, is to whip up the most base emotions. It’s not the Nigerian Federal Government, that’s declaring a war against a people, who happen to be spread across West Africa, the Fulbe; but a subnational state, in this case, Benue State, and its Governor!
“Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom wasn’t done though. He added in response to the allegation that the Fulbe from at least five West African,
and one North African, countries, “want to take over Nigeria as their land”, that “we are going to stop it. We did it 2004 and we are going to do it again”. The interviewer requested to know how effective we’re the laws passed against open grazing of cattle in Benue; to the question, “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom effusively retorted that: “We have prosecuted; convinced over 400 Fulani herdsmen who have besieged the state. We have impounded over 24, 000 heads of cattle. Those who paid fines, we released (their cattle) to them. Those who did not pay, we were able to auction (their) cattle. That’s what the law says”.
On his new Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, he stated that “this is another phase of ensuring that we secure our land…I AM READY TO GO TO WAR…Enough is enough; we must secure our land…WE ARE READY TO WAGE WAR AGAINST THIS EVIL THAT IS COMING AGAINST US…We stand strong and are committed, and are ready to spill the last pint of our blood, to ensure the security of lives and property in Benue State”.
This is the broad background, against which “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, openly declared that he would seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s “favourable consideration”, for the license to procure high grade assault rifles, to satisfy his “compelling need” for his Volunteer Guards, “to match what the Fulani terrorists have…”. And what better person to approve the arms to fight and (possibly carry out a potential genocidal cleansing of the Fulbe from Benue State, than a President, of Fulbe extraction, Muhammadu Buhari! I can imagine that the absurd irony of it all, isn’t lost to “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom.
The Fulbe have become the ultimate “strawman” for “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom; and the most ready one to flog, as a diversion from what many observers of Benue politics, have described as the most wasted years, in the recent history of governance in Benue State. But that’s just one side of the story.
The most dangerous aspect of Ortom’s rhetorics and action, is the systematic manner that he has attempted to cleanse the Fulbe, from Benue. That is along with the setting of communities against each other; the manner that his implementation of Anti-Open Grazing Laws have deprived several communities of the Fulbe, of their livelihood, and in turn, helping to deepen the insecurity that he alleges to be fighting.
It is clear that his approach hasn’t built trust, between the Fulbe and other communities, in Benue State. It is the reason for the establishment of a praetorian guard. As well as his incredible decision, to seek approval to arm them with the AK-47 and AK-49 assault rifles. These only gi to confirm what he stated loudly: “I AM READY FOR WAR”! The only line he kept in his mind would be th logical one, being ready to finish off the Fulbe Benue State! The red herring of the Fulani, as the implacable enemy that he must confront, has conveniently been used to divert attention from the maladministration, that’s alleged to be the lot of Benue State.
A certain Angula Bishop Reuben, recently posted a piece on several online platforms, which compared Borno State, under Professor Zulum and Benue State under “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom.
Reuben noted that: ” After one year in office, Ortom renovated the School of Nursing and Midwives, Makurdi, Benue State, and empowered the youths with plenty of wheelbarrows to hustle”. He added that: “some of his notable achievements after seven years include the failed Amnesty Program; the enactment of the Anti-Opening Grazing Law with a faulty implementation; the construction of less than 1 km of roads in the state capital; the commissioning of a single borehole in Kwande; and the conversion of the Cargo Airport signage to IDP Mega City”.
Reuben was not done: “The achievements of Governor Samuel Ortom in seven years look like the achievements of councilors in the South. This is very shameful to say the least”.
On a final note, Anugla Bishop Reuben summed up the years, under “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom thus: “Benue State has become a brewery of hunger, poverty, unemployment, corruption, and underdevelopment under the leadership of Governor Samuel Ortom despite earning close to 1 trillion Naira through monthly allocation disbursed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), alongside the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), loans, bailout funds, Paris Club Refund, and other sources from June 2015 to December, 2021.
“Yet our governor still owes teachers more than 13 months in arrears; 8 months for state civil servants; 12 months for local government staff; and 6 years for local government pensioners.
Yet Benue State is still struggling with a very high debt profile and insecurity despite receiving millions of security votes to protect the Benue people”.
“This clearly demonstrates that our Governor is the laziest public servant in Nigeria; he sits idle and waits for federal allocation from Abuja every month, unable to think outside the box in addressing our numerous challenges.”
This unwholesome backdrop, might just be a very convenient reason, why the “Field Marshall” Samuel Ortom, has chosen to carefully rev up the anti-Fulani discourse. It has proved a winner in the past; able to divert attention from the ineptitude in governance. A year to the end of an eight-year tenure, might just become a new opportunity to mount again, the old hobby horse of anti-Fulani hysteria, by the “Field Marshall”, Governor Samuel Ortom.
Is’haq Modibbo Kawu
kawumodibbo@yahoo.com