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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has raised alarm of plots by some Fulani elite to eliminate him.

He insisted that he will not be intimidated by anyone to back down from his fight against the invasion of the state by Fulani terrorists from other parts of Africa.

Governor Ortom who addressed a press conference Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi entitled, "I'm Being Targeted for Elimination" maintained that his allegiance is to the people of Benue State who elected him.

He vowed not to back down in protecting their interest till the day he leaves office.

The Governor's reaction followed allegations against him by a group of Fulani elite led by the dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi saying that he was being targeted for elimination.

In his words, "My attention was drawn to a write-up signed by 52 personalities of Fulani extraction led by the deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi in form of a letter to Mr President in which the group leveled all manner of accusations against me in a desperate attempt to set me up for hatred, vilification and attacks.

"The group, which refused to give itself a name, accused me of being responsible for the recent killing of some pastoralists at Akwanaja, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State via a bomb attack. They tried to link the Benue State Livestock Guards with the killings, claiming that the pastoralists were bombed on their way from Benue to Nasarawa after they had retrieved their cattle.

"The group maliciously accused me of carrying out genocide against pastoralists. The dethroned Emir Sanusi did not stop at that. He made a video in Hausa in which he maligned me and called on all Fulanis to consider me as their enemy while urging those in Benue State to vote against me during the coming elections."

Governor Ortom said, "I consider these allegations and blackmail targeted at my person and the Government of Benue State as part of a grand conspiracy by enemies of the state to eliminate me. Since 2017 when we enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, I have escaped seven assassination attempts."

According to the Governor, "The recent utterances of some personalities such as Lamido Sanusi have revealed the true identities of those behind the sinister agenda to eliminate me. But my life is in the hands of God and only He can permit anything evil to come my way," he stated.

He emphasised that "Let me tell the dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi and his conspirators that I cannot be intimidated by any of them. I hold the mandate of Benue people and my allegiance is to my people in respect of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which gives states as federating units, the power to enact laws for the good governance of their people."

He spoke further, "I must state categorically that the Benue State Government under my leadership has no hand in the Akwanaja incident. Linking me with the bomb attack in Doma, Nasarawa State is the most unfair thing anyone would do to me.

"How am I connected or responsible for what did not take place in my state? Akwanaja is in Doma local government area of Nasarawa State, so how do I account for what did not take place in my state? I am Chief Security Officer only in Benue State," Governor Ortom stated.

The Governor further stated that "Fulani herdsmen attacks on my people in the last couple of years have caused a devastating humanitarian crisis resulting in the killing of over 6,000 Benue people and the displacement of about two million others with many living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Our people have suffered the organized genocide masked in terrorism, not because they do not know their attackers.

"Benue people know those who are visiting them with unprovoked violence and killings, but as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, we have chosen to sustain our belief in the conventional security agencies of this country. Now, the enemy has turned round to accuse our people of being the aggressors," he stressed.

According to the Governor, "It is public knowledge that right from the day the law came into effect, umbrella bodies of nomadic herders boldly came out with impunity and said they would never obey the law.

"They vowed to mobilize Fulanis across the West African sub-region to invade Benue State and stop implementation of the law. They actualized their threats on the eve of the 2018 New Year when they carried out simultaneous attacks on Guma and Logo local government areas killing 73 people whom we painfully gave a mass burial in Makurdi on January 11, 2018."

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced a reward package for athletes that represented the state at the 2022 National Sports Festival held at Asaba, Delta State.

Bayelsa placed a historic second behind Delta, surpassing its earlier best position of third recorded at the 2020 festival hosted by Edo State in 2021.

Governor Diri, who received the state’s contingent on Wednesday inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, recalled that Bayelsa won 109 gold, 104 silver and 87 bronze medals.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the Governor announced One Million Nairs each to individual gold medallists and N750,000 each for team gold.

He also rewarded individual silver medallists with N500,000 and N300,000 for team silver medallists while individual bronze medallists got N300,000 and N150,000 for each team bronze medallist.

Coaches and secretaries of gold medal teams got N500,000 each while their assistants got N300,000 each. Those in silver category N300,000 each and their assistants N200,000. 

The Governor also rewarded non-medallists with N50,000 each.

He equally announced automatic employment for those yet to be employed in the State Sports Council and directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to work out the modalities.

His words: “You have broken your own record and now Bayelsa is the number two sporting state in Nigeria. Your record and the state’s exploits in football and other sporting activities have resulted in my being nominated as the "Best Sports Governor in Nigeria." That award will be dedicated to all of you. Let us continue to raise the image of the state like you did in Asaba.”

Earlier, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Daniel Igali, said Bayelsa was the only state that rewarded its athletes instantly at the games, which inspired them to exceed their target.

While thanking the Governor for approving funds for the contingent, Igali stated that the team broke six records in swimming in  the men and women categories as well as in weightlifting.

He stressed that as one of the premier sporting states in the country, there was need to upgrade its sporting facilities in order to be able to host the National Sports Festival in no distant time.

 Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has felicitated Christians in Oyo State and across the country on witnessing another Christmas.

The Governor, who stated that Christmas presents a golden opportunity to celebrate Christ, his humble beginning and the lessons his life taught, charged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ in all ways.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Governor also charged residents of the state to be conscious security-wise during the Yuletide and to say something whenever they noticed something untoward or unusual.

Makinde, who maintained that criminalities have reduced drastically in Oyo State a result of the efforts of his government through its investments on security as well as the effectiveness of the security agencies, said residents have a huge role to play in upping the ante.

He said: “I celebrate with all residents of Oyo State and all Nigerians on witnessing the 2022 Christmas festivity."

“It is another opportunity to celebrate Jesus Christ and the lessons his life taught humanity; lessons of humility, selflessness, godliness and service."

“I encourage everyone to use the opportunity of the occasion to remember the life of Christ and emulate him."

“I also charge our people to be alert and sensitive during the Yuletide, especially with regards to security."

“At the last Security Council meeting we had, it was said that crimes are at the lowest ebb in Oyo State and that the state is now a bad business for criminals."

He said that the situation was brought about by his administration's investments in security and the great efforts being put into securing our state by all the security agencies and the non-state actors."

“While appreciating residents of the state for the roles they have played towards a more secured Oyo State, I encourage them to be alert at this period and as I always say, when they see something, they should say something."

“Again, I congratulate everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas.”

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has sworn in  Honourable Justice Lilian Abai as the Acting Chief Judge of Abia State with a charge to her to maintain the cordial relationship existing between the executive and the Judiciary in the State. 

 

Speaking after administering the oaths of office and allegiance on the new acting Chief Judge, by the State Solicitor General, Lady Uzoamaka Ikonne at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor Ikpeazu assured that his administration would do everything to support her to make the Abia Judiciary better. 

The Governor commended the Judiciary for setting up and sustaining a template for succession which makes leadership transition seamless. He appreciated the relative stable relationship between the Executive arm of Government and the Judiciary in the State and saluted the immediate past Chief Judge of the State, Justice Onuoha Arisa Kalu Ogwe for working in synergy with the Executive and expressed his desire for it to continue. 

 

Governor Ikpeazu, who congratulated Justice Lilian Abai on her emergence as the new Acting Chief Judge expressed confidence that she would acquit herself creditably with the new office. 

 

In her acceptance speech, the Acting Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai thanked the Governor for the honour done her. 

She promised to abide by the oath of her office and discharge her duties accordingly while assuring that she would maintain the cordial relationship existing between the Executive and the Judiciary. 

The swearing in of the new Acting Chief Judge followed the retirement yesterday of  the former Chief Judge of the State, Justice Onuoha Arisa Kalu Ogwe. 

 

The ceremony attracted the presence of the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the President Abia State Customary Court of Appeal, Honorable Justice Okey Nwamoh, Honorable Judges of the State Judiciary, immediate past Chief Judge of the State, Justice Onuoha Arisa Kalu Ogwe, retired Chief Judges and Presidents of Abia State Customary Court of Appeal, Secretary to Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, Commissioners, 

State Head of Service, Sir Onyi Onyii Wamah , Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahiwe ,  legal practitioners and family members of the new Acting Chief Judge amongst others. 

 

 

 

 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Friday, 14th October, 2022 paid a visit to the site of the gully erosion menace at Ovom Street, Ogbor Hill Aba.

Governor Ikpeazu who had earlier been briefed by the relevant agencies of the State Government on the menace went there to see things for himself, expressed deep concern at the extent of the erosion and thanked God that no life was lost in the landslide that led to gully.

 

The Governor regretted that areas that are natural water paths have been converted into places where houses are built thereby subjecting the areas to additional pressure.

The Governor noted that the scale of the incident is clearly beyond what the State Government could handle effectively, assured that the State Government would package a definite and emergency request to the Federal Government through the Ecological Office in the Presidency which was established to deal with issues like this.

The Governor however assured that the State Government will not just wait for the Federal Government, and that emergency remedial actions will be taken by the State Government by the next 2 weeks when the rains should have stopped. 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu advised the people living around the area to stay away completely from the area to avoid aggravating the situation there.

Governor Ikpeazu was met at the site and taken round by the Member representing Aba Central State Constituency at the House of Assembly, Hon Sir Abraham Oba, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Sam Nwogu, a former Executive Chairman of Aba North LGA, Prince Ogbonna and some others.

 

 

 

 

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has charged the 23 newly sworn-in Council Chairmen in the State to carry everyone along in running the administration of their respective local governments. 

 

The Governor gave the charge on Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 while inaugurating the elected local government Chairmen at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

He urged the Chairmen to imbibe the culture of operating an inclusive administration, pointing out that they must always involve all Council members, stakeholders as well as the local government legislative members in decision-making in order to succeed.

The Governor further tasked the Chairmen to give priority to payment of primary school teachers, local government area traditional councils, stressing that "These and other statutory obligations should be put on first line charge to ensure the seamless operations of the local government councils."  

He said "With your swearing-in today, you should bear in mind that the days of playing politics are over. Now is the time to concentrate on giving the electorate quality service because that is the reason for giving you their mandate. 

"It is important for all of you to note at all times that we are in office because of the electorate and not for ourselves. We must therefore serve them faithfully, diligently and conscientiously because there is always the day to give account of our stewardship," Governor Ortom said.

Governor Ortom further enjoined the Chairmen to keep abreast with all financial and other regulations guiding the conduct of their administrations and strictly adhere to them and also avoid unnecessary financial commitments which will lead to litigations. 

 

The Governor also cautioned them on embarking on any form of new projects and award of contracts but rather try to complete ongoing ones.

While lamenting the rising crime wave, insecurity and crises in some parts of the State, the Governor charged the Chairmen as chief security officers in their respective local governments, to work in harmony with the Police and other security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders towards nipping in the bud any form of crisis to guarantee peace.

Governor Ortom reminded the Chairmen that the Open Grazing Prohibition Law is very much in force in the State and called on them to work hand-in-hand with security agencies as well as the Livestock Guards to enforce it.

The Governor also swore in Mr. Abulu Friday Abulu as Special Adviser to the Governor and Terna Demenongo Ayu as Permanent Secretary for the State Civil Service. 

In separate remarks on behalf of their colleagues, Chairman Guma local government, Mr. Mike Uba and Special Adviser to Governor, Friday Abulu all pledged their readiness to work for the development of the State.

The State Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, State Assembly Speaker and PDP Governorship Candidate, Engr Titus Uba, Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Aondoaver Kaka'an, the State Head of Service, Mrs Veronica Onyeke among other senior government officials also attended the ceremony.