(The Weekly Updates on the activities of Gov Samuel Ortom: May 18-22, 2020)
MONDAY MAY 18th:
ORTOM GOES TOUGH ON TRADITIONAL RULERS
...Suspends five for complicity in communal banditry, killings
■ Governor Samuel Ortom convened a bipartisan stakeholders meeting on Monday May 18th to kick start the process of healing and reconciliation in Tiv land. And the reason is simple: Tiv nation has been greatly polarised. But the governor says it's time to heal the wounds, close up the differences and work for the good of the land. He also amplified the havoc visited on the land by the invasion of our communities by herdsmen, mindless intra and inter communal crises and not forgetting kidnappings. The herdsmen kill defencless people on their farmlands, homes and rip their bowels apart. Sen George Akume, Sen Gabriel Suswam, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, Sen Barnabas Gemade and Orker Jev were some of the top politicians present. Traditional, community as sell as religious leaders support government for the growth of Tiv nation.
■ One of the highpoints of the meeting was the big stick wielded on some traditional rulers for their alleged complicity with crimanl gangs and the growing spate of violence and kidnappings in their domains. Two district heads, three kindred heads were suspended and handed over to the police. The District Head of Uvir Council Ward in Guma Local Government Area, James Abu amd the Kindred Head of Unyande, Samuel Ayayo were among those suspended. Others suspended included the District Head of Ikov, Samuel Iorhule while the Kindred heads of Shilagh, Chief Joseph Yar; Chief Aanger Ortese of Uninge.
...SETS UP SECURITY COMMITTEES AT ALL LEVELS
■ The meeting endorsed the formation of security committees at kindred, ward and district levels to assist security agencies in securing lives and property.
TOUGHER MEASURES AGAINST CRIMINALS AS ORTOM INAUGURATES COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE.
■ Governor Samuel Ortom inaugurated the Benue State Community Policing Advisory Committee. He lamented increasing cases of armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, rape and other crimes in the state and declared that with the inauguration of the committee, there will be tougher measures against criminals in the state. He pointed out that community policing is a global standard practice which emphasises building relationships and working closely with members of the public to curtail and prevent crime.
Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu who was represeneted by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Lawal Shehu explained that "the idea of Community Policing has become imperative and expedient due to security challenges in the country and so there's every need to collaborate." Benue State Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Ibrahim Mukadas, pledged that the committee will carry out its assignment with utmost seriousness. Tor Tiv V, HRM, Prof James Ayatse is the alternate chairman.
TUESDAY MAY 19th:
TECHNICAL AND SPECIAL SCIENCE SCHOOLS, MAKURDI MERGED
■ Governor Samuel Ortom Tuesday May 19th, 2020 directed the merger of the Technical School located at the Benue State University Makurdi with that of the Special Science Senior Secondary School, North Bank, Makurdi. The school will now be known as Government Science and Technical College, Makurdi.
...PLEDGES TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AT AATCAPS
The governor also inspected infrastructures at the Alfred Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi to ascertain it's current state. He announced that government would carry out a phased rehabilitation work in the school before its final conversion to a Polytechnic. Already, the legislative process to convert the College to a Polytechnic had reached advanced stage at the Benue State House of Assembly.
Rector of Alfred Akawe Torkula College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Prof. Barns Anger and the Principal of Special Science Senior Secondary School Makurdi, Principal, Mrs. Lilian Ameh, took the governor round the school premises and listed structues they wanted rehabilitated.
WEDNESDAY MAY 20th:
BENUE, NASARAWA MOVES TO END BORDER CRISES
■ In a bid to find lasting solution to incessant clashes on the border communities of their states, the governors of Benue and Nasarawa states, Wednesday May 20, 2020 agreed to speed up efforts for the demarcation of the boundaries between their states to curtail incessant border crises between herders and farmers of the two states.
They took the decision Wednesday at a joint peace and security meeting held at LGEA Primary School Yelewata, Guma local government area, Benue State.
Governor Samuel Ortom and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Engr. Abdullahi Sule in a communique they jointly signed agreed to set up joint security committees at the local government areas of Guma in Benue, Obi, Keana, Awe and Doma in Nasarawa, to checkmate criminal elements in the border communities.
Governor Ortom who read the communique hinted that the Deputy Governors of the two states will head the committee. The boundary demarcation committee will also address the lingering crisis involving ethnic groups such as Alago, Fulani and Tiv.
The meeting also asked Fulani herdsmen to obey the ranching law of Benue and refrain from trespassing and occupying farmlands in Benue pending the boundary demarcation between the two states.
The governors commended President Muhammadu Buhari for setting up a special airwing taskforce on security to compliment the efforts of the regular security agencies in combating crime in the North Central Zone.
THURSDAY MAY 21st:
■ BENUE REVERSES DECISION TO REOPEN WORSHIP CENTRES, MARKETS
Following the advice from the Federal Government, the Benue State Government has reversed its decision to reopen worship centres, markets and public places. This was announced Saturday by Govenor Samuel Ortom while briefing journalists in Makurdi.
Governor Ortom had announced Thursday at the end of the joint State Executive Council and the State Action Committee on COVID-19 that churches and mosques could hold staggered worship sessions. Workers on grade levels 1 to 12 who were asked to stay at home are to resume work on June 1, 2020 while the curfew in the state is now 8pm to 6am daily until further notice.
He said the state decided to heed the advice of the Federal Government and other groups because Benue is part of the Nigerian Federation and it behoves on the state to work in collaboration with all relevant federal agencies including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, "therefore, on behalf of the State Executive Council, I hereby reverse the lifting of ban on churches and mosques services/prayers."
■ BENUE STATE GOVT MOVES TO RESTORE PEACE IN EDIKWU
More efforts to restore peace in warring communities in Benue state continued Thursday, May 21, 2020. The Edikwu district of Apa Local Government has had the aged-long crisis from a chieftaincy tussle. Stakeholders from the local government converged in Makurdi to find an end to the crises. The state deputy governor, Engr Benson Abounu, who stood in for Governor Samuel Ortom presided.
Dignataries at the meeting included Commissioner for Finance, Hon David Olofu, Hon Abu Umoro; Member, Benue State House of Assembly from Apa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Joseph Odaudu and his counterpart on Security, Rtd Col Paul Hemba, Benue State Commissioner of Police, the caretaker chairman, Apa local government council, The Ada' Apa/Agatu, Chief Baba Odangla among others.
Nathaniel Ikyur
Principal Special Asst on Media,
Governor of Benue State.
May 24, 2020
