By Sunday Iduh
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom said Federal Government’s plan to cause lawlessness in the state will not succeed because God was on the throne and always there to give the state victory.
He stated this during a stakeholders meetings which was held at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi to deliberate on the issue of privatisation, security and other burning matters affecting the state.
The governor stated that the aim of the meeting was to seek the views of stakeholders, in order to help government in the decision making process. “It is a matter of complementing each other to ensure that we are successful. Constant dialogue and sharing of ideas will help the state to develop,” he said.
On the recent vilification of his person by the Presidency over his comments and stance on the killings in the state, the governor maintained that he was portraying the true situations of things as they were and has not done anything wrong. He said if he was proven wrong in all that he has said, he was ready to apologise to the Presidency.
Speaking also on privatisation, Governor Ortom explained that the state Council on Privatisation and commercialization was acting within the privatisation and Commercialization Law, 2010 as enacted by Benue State House of Assembly.
He said the enterprises to be privatised were listed in the law and he has not added anything to the list, while maintaining that the state has a lot to benefit from the exercise and has nothing to lose, stating that it will create jobs, develop the state and create wealth.
The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, in a remark appreciated the governor for always involving Benue people in the decision making process. According to him, he was saddened by the political dimension the governor’s outcry has taken which he noted, may be because the governor was of a different political party.
The paramount ruler of the Tiv nation stated that he has no seen anything personal on what the governor has been saying. According to him, “a sick man never stops taking medication until he is cured of the sickness.”
Prof. Ayatse who commended the governor for supporting security agencies in the state tasked Benue people on unity, irrespective of party affiliations and called on the governor to expedite action on the process for the recruitment of volunteer guards in the state, while also warning against the highjacking of the process by political elements.
The Chairman, Benue State Traditional Council threw his weight behind the privatisation exercise, stating that there were benefits in it. He however, called for the exercise to be structured while critical steps be taken to ensure that the state does not lose its heritage
On his part, Och’Idoma, Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, represented by the First Class Chief for Apa/Agatu, Baba Odangla, called on the people to support the governor and described as unfortunate, the absence of some Benue sons and daughters at the meeting.
A former Minister of Communication, Chief Paul Unongo said the governor was being misrepresented. “If you wake up every day to see your people being butchered, what would you do?
“Those taking the governor’s call on Mr President otherwise, are not being fair to the country. The governor has not done anything wrong by letting the President know about the situation in the state,” stated.
Senator Orker Jev who spoke on behalf of Senators from the state, maintained that they were solidly behind the governor and are always ready to speak for the state. According to him, “for those who stayed away for political reason, a time will come when the benefits of the moment will pass away and they will be handed over to posterity.”