WORKMAN 9th - 15th November, 2020

WORKMAN 

CONTENTS 

9TH - 15TH NOVEMBER 2020 

4 

6 

8 

Benue's Budget 

of Resilience 

Benue Pension Arrears: 

Clearing the Augean 

Stable 

Benue Wants Justice 

from Herdsmen 

Attacks 

12 

13 

14 

No Male Genital 

Organ Missing in 

Daudu - Ortom 

Ortom Acknowledges 

Army's Contributions 

to Peace in Benue 

Ortom Pledges Support 

to FRSC, Calls for 

Change in Focus 

15 

16 

26 

Benue Youth Summit 

Non Partisan 

Benue to spend 

N132.592Bn in 2021 

Steve Akange Connects 

Communities with 

Road Network 

Issue 26 | 9th - 15th Nov 2020 | 03


FRANKLY 

Speg 

- Nathaniel Ikyur ~ Editor in Chief 

BENUE'S BUDGET OF RESILIENCE 

Governor Samuel Ortom's 2021 budget proposal has set 

the tone, situating the spirit behind it as an ambitious 

policy drive that can alter the fortunes of the state in terms 

of economic growth and development. Benue sure needs 

this. And that is why the governor, and his team of 

economic advisers are mindful, that even though the 

implementation of the proposed 2021 budget will have its 

challenges, it nevertheless has the potentials to impact 

meaningfully on the wellbeing of the people of the state. 

Some of the anticipated challenges, many of these are 

related to COVID-19. 

This include, but not limited to, controlling the 

spread of the pandemic which ravaged the globe in the 

outgoing year as well as mitigating its impact on lives and 

livelihoods. Similarly, the volatility of the global economy 

and possible fluctuations in the Federation Account 

receipts as a source of funds for the budget is a challenge 

the Governor highlited in his speech to the state Assembly. 

This is more so in the face of speculations of another 

economic recession and depression. 

Given the narrowing window of alternative 

sources to finance rising recurrent and capital 

expenditure; management of outstanding debts, arrears 

of salaries, pensions and contract payments, widespread 

lockdowns of economic activities due to outbreaks of 

disease, protests or other national emergencies as well as 

controlling unexpected herdsmen and communal crises 

that disrupt production activities around here, the 

presumptions by the Ortom administration to mitigate 

these and tackle them to enable productivity is 

commendable. 

Although government may not control all of 

these risks, the outlays of deliberate steps to mitigate their 

impact on meeting the targets in the 2021 budget is novel. 

On the economic and fiscal front, the governor gave insight 

how his administration has planned to diligently integrate 

the proposals put forward by the Benue State Economic 

Advisory (BSEAC) to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and 

prepare the state to survive and thrive in its aftermath. This 

new budget therefore includes some of these 

recommendations. 

In addition, the Benue State Executive Council has 

constituted a special Strategy Committee, chaired by the 

governor, to fast-track policy actions aimed at developing 

the agricultural value chain to create jobs for the Benue youth 

and wealth for the people of the state. The Committee is to 

ensure that revenue is generated and remitted to the 

treasury while also strengthening the development 

partnerships at home and abroad. 

Specifically on revenue, the Ortom administration is 

poised to continue to ensure that adequate support and 

compliance measures are in place to track collection and 

remittance of all revenues in line with agreed milestones, with 

sanctions to be applied as part of the enforcement measures 

wherever necessary. 

Given the character enshrined in the 2021 budget, 

it's clear that the Benue State government under the firm grip 

of Ortom plans to work to improve the quality and impact of 

our expenditure. This may have accounted for the move by 

government to establish a budget intelligence unit and also 

strengthen the existing Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of 

Finance to monitor the quality of expenditure. When all these 

are put in place, the outcomes and deliverables from the 

2021 budget will truly reflect the character of the projections 

and further strengthen the resilience of the people of the 

state who have had to face manifold challenges. That way, 

they will begin to focus on these measures that will enhance 

their economic recovery and growth. 

Feedbacks 

Editorial 

Advisers: 

Ngunan Addingi 

James Uloko 

Terver Akase 

Ray Magen 

Editor-In-Chief: 

Nathaniel Ikyur 

Editorial 

Assistants: 

Jimin Geoffrey 

David Mzer 

Head of Production/ 

Distribution: 

Solomon Amande 

Photographer: Shima Akile 

Graphics: PTG Digital Solutions 

Our Email: benuepeoplesnewsworkman@gmail.com

STAR PHOTO 


SPECIAL REPORT SERIES 

Benue Pension Arrears: 

Clearing the Augean Stable 

By James Uloko 

Gov ortom 

hat the issue of unpaid pensions and 

Tgratuity in Benue state is a mighty 

problem for all concerned is not 

debatable. The argument, however, is whether 

the state government is doing enough and what 

progress the administration is making in 

sorting out the problem. 

While some stakeholders insist the 

administration of Governor Samuel Ortom has 

done virtually nothing about it, others say what 

the government has done is too little to have 

any meaning for pensioners. The fact, however, 

is that, considering the multifarious demands 

on the states available lean resources as well as 

the magnitude of the pension problem, the 

administration's efforts in the payment of 

arrears of pensions and gratuity is significant. 

What do the available figures tell us? 

The annual budget of Benue state for 2020 is 

N108 billion. This is meant to cover all 

activities of government, including current 

salaries, all outstanding obligations, education, 

roads, electrification, health services, 

agriculture, sports, science and technology, 

etc., for all ministries, departments and 

agencies for the whole year. For ease of 

analysis and understanding, let's assume that 

this amount is shared equally among the 15 

ministries in the state (excluding departments 

and agencies), each will get N7.2 billion. 

On the other hand, the total size of the 

pensions and gratuity payable by the state 

government between 2015 and October 2020, 

(including the N17.141 billion inherited by this 

administration), stand at N68.195. This is 63% 

of the 2020 budget. Out of this, the government 

has paid N25.465 billion as at October this 

year, leaving a balance of N42.273 billion, 

made of N14.522 billion in pension arrears and 

N28.208 billion in gratuity arrears. This year 

alone, government has paid N3.283 billion or 

about 50% of the assumed average 

ministry's budgetary allocation for the 

year. 

The above figures do not include 

the pension and gratuity arrears of the 23 

Local Government areas in the state. For 

this category, the cost of pension, gratuity, 

death benefits and cumulative pension 

arrears between 2015 and now (October 

2020) is N72.456 billion. Out of this, 

government has offset N10.630 billion, 

leaving an outstanding of N61.825 billion. 

W h a t t h i s m e a n s i s t h a t 

government will require N104 billion 

(remember: this year's total budget is N108 

billion) to clear all the arrears due to both 

state and local government pensioners. 

This is a tall order but not impossible. It is 

like an Augean stable. Yet, the arrears must 

be paid somehow, some day and – possibly 

– gradually, so that government can also 

attend to its other obligations. Yet, serving 

civil servants will continue to retire and 

add to the existing pension bill of 

government. 

Aware of the magnitude of the 

existing and potential challenge posed by 

the growing pensions and gratuity bill, 

Governor Ortom is adopting a multipronged 

approach to take the bull by the 

horns. The administration has taken steps 

to provide immediate, short and long term 

solutions to the pension problem, through 

the establishment of the Benue State 

Pension Commission (BEPCOM). 

Modeled after Federal Government's 

N a t i o n a l P e n s i o n C o m m i s s i o n 

(PENCOM), its mandate is to solve the 

notorious suffering of retired civil servants 

in the state due to the delay or non-payment 

of their pension and gratuity. It is to ensure 

that every person who has worked in the 

public service of the state or local 

government receives his retirement benefit 

as and when due; assist improvident 

individuals by ensuring that they save in 

order to cater for their livelihood during old 

age; and to implement a uniform set of 

rules, regulations and standards for the 

administration and payment of retirement 

benefits in the public sector of the state. 

Those to benefit from BEPCOM 

are in three categories. The first constitutes 

civil servants who have more than five 

years to serve in the public service. Each 

employee in this category is to contribute 

eight percent of his monthly salary while 

his employer is to contribute 10 percent of 

the worker's salary (total, 18 percent) to be 

remitted to his Retirement Savings 

Account (RSA). This contribution 

continues until the worker retires. The fund 

so accumulated in the RSA will now 


become accessible to him upon retirement 

or attainment of the age of 50 years, 

whichever comes later. This way, the usual 

problems of stressful, costly and unending 

screening of pensioners, delays in payment 

or lack of funds to pay, leading to the death 

of pensioners, are eliminated. 

The second category consists of 

civil servants who have less than five years 

left in service. This category has been 

exempted from the contributory pension 

scheme but government, through 

BEPCOM, is to provide funds for 

investment from which they will be paid 

their pension based on the old arrangement 

whenever they retire. The last category is 

that of those that have already retired, that 

is, those who are being owed now. 

Government is expected to, also through 

BEPCOM, source funds from pension 

funds to pay them off. The BEPCOM 

Board has already made inputs into the 

state's 2020 budget on the handling of these 

schemes and is talking to relevant 

s t a k e h o l d e r s t h r o u g h a d v o c a c y 

programmes. It is expected that, in the long 

term, the last two categories will be fully 

paid off, leaving only the first category to 

continue to participate in the contributory 

scheme. Once their pension benefits are 

computed, all they will be expecting every 

month is an alert from their RSA. 

Millions of Federal and private 

sector pensioners in Nigeria have been 

benefitting from this kind of arrangement 

through PENCOM. However, because it is 

novel to workers in Benue state who have 

not tasted its goodness, they would 

naturally be wary of it. The current 

resistance or skepticism towards this 

innovation should, therefore, be expected. 

It is, thus, incumbent on the Board, 

management and staff of BEPCOM to 

sensitize the relevant stakeholders in order 

to earn their trust, confidence and buy-in. 

They must be transparent and ensure that 

contributors get value for their money. 

On their part, the contributors 

should understand that BEPCOM is the 

product of years of dissatisfaction with the 

status quo and should be shown 

understanding and given time to start up, 

grow and mature. 

It is only when every stakeholder 

plays his role appropriately that the state 

government can clear the Augean stable 

called the pension problem in Benue state. 

Uloko is the Special Adviser to Governor 

Samuel Ortom on Information and 

Orientation 


SUNDAY NOV 1 


Ortom commends Rapizo at 

Album launch 

enue State Governor, Samuel 

BOrtom has commended 

Benue born artist, Lubem 

Nyam Luke also Known as Rapizo 

for his music, saying he has 

consistently demonstrated love for 

Benue State in his songs. 

The Principal Special 

Assistant to the Governor on Media, 

Mr. Nathaniel Ikyur, who represented 

the Governor and Wife, gave the 

commendation at the 4th music 

album launch titled 'Unity' by Rapizo 

which took place at Precious Event 

Center, Makurdi. 

G o v e r n o r O r t o m s a i d 

Rapizo has been committed to 

promoting Benue's tradition and 

culture as well as letting the 

challenges of its people known 

through music. 

"He has demonstrated his 

love and commitment by putting 

forward, the challenges of his people 

and also promoting its tradition and 

culture. He can be easily identified 

with his brand with a calabash, 

stripped in the Tiv colours of anger. 

With his music, he has lamented 

about the killings among his people 

in 'Tar Taver' and 'Mough Nen Sha.' 

He has wedged war, with his music 

against the invasion of the Tiv by the 

armed herdsmen across various 

communities in Benue State” he 

stated. 

Governor Ortom also 

applauded Benue youths for 

showing patriotism and respect to 

h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a s t h e y 

conducted themselves responsibly 

while the EndSARS protest lasted, 

adding that the Benue Youth Summit 

will lay structures to build the future 

of Benue youths in all spheres. 

Also Speaking , Chairman 

of the occasion, the Chief Press 

Secretary to Benue State Governor, 

Mr Terver Akase, represented by 

Senior Special Assistant to the 

Governor on Research, Archives 

and Documentation, Iorliam Shija, 

said Nigeria must watch out for 

Rapizo. He continued that whatever 

Rapizo is doing today is only a 

representation of the talents in the 

state. 

Managing Director, Greg 

and Co, Engr. Vincent Aduku, 

represented by the company's 

General Manager, Michael Jinjingi, 

said the company has through a 

thorough process chosen Rapizo as 

its brand Ambassador. 

Others present at the album 

launch included Mr Ukeyima 

Keleve who represented Secretary 

to the State Government, Professor 

Tony Ijohor, SAN, Director General 

Benue Television, Dr Patience 

Achakpikyo and President Benue 

Youth Forum, comrade Terence 

Kuanum. 

Reported by Benjamin Ngutsav 


SUNDAY NOV 1 

Presidential Briefing on Security: Verbatim Report 


Benue Wants Justice from 

Herdsmen Attacks 

Gov Ortom addressing the Stakeholders at the meeting 

The meeting was convened by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom in collaboration with the Minister of Special Duties and 

Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume to brief the people of Benue state on the state of affairs of the country, arising 

from the #EndSARS protests which turned violent and in some cases, looting, stealing and plundering of public and private 

investments in most states of the federation. The meeting began one hour behind schedule. The views expressed at the meeting were 

non partisan. 

Governor Samuel Ortom: 

I know that very distinguished personalities who are here had very 

important issues to attend to but have sacrificed to attend this 

meeting. Ypu have done it not just for me but for the state and for 

yourself. I want to appreciate all of you and to look forward that 

today's meeting will be fruitful. This meeting will help us, not just 

for what are we're here today to discuss but for the future of our 

state. We're all aware of what is happening, not just in Benue State 

but the entire country. For the past few days, we've heard protests 

all over the country, including Benue State. The protests have now 

moved to another phase and it is very disturbing to see what is 

going on social media with all the mischief. We've not slept all in 

the last few days trying to persuade, and convince our youths, that 

no matter the provocation, they should still remain calm and look 

for the legitimate ways of reaching out to us who are their fathers 

and leaders so that we can find a way out of this. We've heard a lot 

of rumours: that they will destroy the governor's house and his 

investments, they will destroy the Minister's house and whatever 

he has. 

#ENDSARS As a National Challenge 

We've heard how politics trying to find its way into this national 

challenge that we all have today. I believe that, whatever is our 

differences, this is the time to sheath our swords and work 

towards a common cause that will take us out of this challenge 

that we've found ourselves in. I know, that the current leaders are 

not the cause of the problem but an accumulation as a result from 

successive leadership. It's an accumulation of the anger. The 

failure of leaders over the years to do certain things that could 

have taken our children off the streets. It's a responsibility for all 

of us. What's happening is really scary and disturbing. And for 

anyone who means well should be thinking of how we can solve 

Issue 26 | 9th - 15th Nov 2020 | 08 

this problem. It is not to put petrol on existing fire. So whatever 

differences we have, let us work together. The challenge we have 

now is that, this country is on fire but we need to come together 

to put out the fire. Then we can talk of our interests and differ 

especially. Politicking will not stop. But if we have no country to 

politic, then we are all fools. 

As one of the leaders in this country, I had sleepless 

nights in the last weeks. I pondered on the security situation. I 

was deeply worried. If anybody says he/she's not worried, then 

it's not true. I have my fear and worry with what I've seen. What 

you've seen today, it's not because of President Buhari alone, 

myself, minister or any other leader. It is an accumulation of 

wrongs that have been meted on our people over the years. If you 

ask those of us who are leaders, in the 1950's, the total 

population of Nigeria was less than 40 million people. But 

today, we're over 200 million. What has successive governments 

done to provide for the growing population? What strategy has 

been put in place? Is it not time we looked at trying to control our 

population? The problem are multiple. We need to sit down and 

find ways to get things going down well. Leadership is about all. 

You can't do it alone. It's not about one person. We must open 

doors to allow fresh and creative ideas that can turn things 

around and make things work. For me as the governor, am ready 

for accept any idea that will make things better for the people. 

The good thing is that, Benue would have been put on the 

foundation that when rain or storms come, we cannot be broken 

because we're working together. 

Truth About CACOVID Palliatives 

We've made the youths know that we're not holding any Covid - 

19 palliative that came. When the Palliatives came, they were 

worth N649m for Benue State. That was what we received. A 

Continued in page 9

SUNDAY NOV 1 



Continued from page 8 

committee headed by Dangote who 

chaired a committee of businessmen 

raised 23bn. They insisted that they will 

distribute the items themselves. I 

insisted that perishable items like garri, 

if they were kept in an enclosed place for 

too long will be damaged. And Benue 

state was among the first to distribute 

these items. The members of that 

committee were here when the local 

government chairmen were invited. We 

delivered 100 percent palliatives to the 

entire local government chairmen. If 

any local government chairmen is 

hoarding any palliative, that's left for 

the person. I received reports in one 

local government that the palliatives 

were diverted. I've set up a committee 

headed by the Secretary to the State 

Government. Whenever I get the report, 

if the chairman is found wanting, he will 

be sanctioned according to our laws. So 

there's no palliative anywhere in Benue State at the state level. 

Everything went back to the local government chairmen. From 

enquiries, am told that they too have distributed them. So there's 

no need to come and break a warehouse like what we're 

witnessing in other states. 

I believe that some of the states having this challenge is 

not because they wanted to hoard and divert them. In our 

governor's meeting, we were told that another recession is coming 

that will be more difficult than Covid-19 and we should keep it. 

But Benue State opposed it that let this be distributed. So the states 

who have these items in stock didn't mean to punish the people. 

The Challenge Of Governance 

As leaders, we must continue to talk, especially at this time amd 

not leaving any gap. Because any little gap, we the leaders and the 

led will be consumed. All we need now is a synergy and how we 

can provide for our people. The issue of pension and gratuity is 

that when I came in, I inherited 70bn. The federal government 

gave us a relief of N28bn. But what we requested for was 70bn. 

The balance of 42bn is still there. The truth is that, economically, 

the situation is not good. But I believe that with new 

understanding, things will be better. Moreso the Minister himself 

is a pensioner. I personally went to meet with Mr President. He 

directed the Minister of Finance and Central Bank. I've gone there 

severally. When I took the letter to Mr President, I told him the 

message from pensioners; they are dying of hunger, they are 

dying because they are not getting drugs and he accepted it. Kogi 

was given the balance. When I get that money, I'll clear the 

pension arrears. This is a big burden to me. I want Mr President to 

consider this and do it for his subjects and not for me. Most of you 

didn't understand the Och'Idoma when he was speaking. The 

point he was saying was that we must industrialise and encourage 

agriculture. That we must do things that engage our people. You 

will notice that most of the industries in the country try have 

folded up. 

The economies of most countries now are driven by the 

private sector. Government only provides policy, regulation and 

monitoring to ensure compliance. That is what we need in this 

country. Here, the local governments are overstaffed. Go to your 

local governments and find out how many people come to work in 

the local government? Some of them are politicians. They are the 

one's on the payroll. And nothing is left for the local governments 

to execute any project that will add value to the people. All the 

tiers of government must work hard. But of course the federal 

government should take the lead. Even if it means having a 

common purse, that out of the federation account, to save our 


Sen George Akume, Hon Minister of Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Affairs 

industries in Nigeria, let us do it. Let the federal government 

provide interest free loans for prospective industrialists who are 

ready to venture into the production in our agro based sector. 

Security Agencies Are Doing Well 

Governor Ortom told the stakeholders that the state would have 

been consumed, but for the active support of the Operation 

Whirl Stroke, OPWS, the 72 Battalion Makurdi, the Nigeria 

Police Force, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps 

etc. They have been working together under my leadership in the 

state security council to surmount this challenge. They have 

worked hard. And there are several of these security personnel 

that have lost their lives as result of giving protection to Benue 

people. We commend you. We pray that God will provide for 

their families. 

Equipping And Funding The Police 

As a son of a Policeman, I have this attachment for Policemen. I 

know how they suffer. I know how we suffered. Part of why I 

dropped out of school was because of the low pay of the wages 

of a police man and an extension to my father. How much is a 

Police man paid? And how's a policeman in Nigeria equipped? 

How about training? And how about capacity in terms of 

personnel? How many Police men do we have? In my local 

government, I know how many of them are. If a whole local 

government has less than one hundred, it means these trouble. 

Governments must come together to support and equip the 

Police. To recruit enough policemen as they are retiring. And as 

our population is growing, government must also look for ways 

of getting more people to be enlisted to support the existing 

ones. The policemen must be funded and paid properly. 

Elsewhere, Policemen are motivated. The issue of funding, 

training and equipping, not just the police but all security 

agencies. I know they would have done much better but they are 

restrained as a result of lack of adequate funding. 

Prioritising Interventions In Benue 

I must commend the federal government again for promoting 

agriculture but we need to do more. This is one area that a lot of 

youths engaged. If we take on the agricultural value chain, 

provide resources, it will go a long way in supporting our 

youths who could be engaged along the value chain of 

agriculture. Hon Minister, you've said so much, most people in 

the audience here, some of the things you've mentioned, are 

hearing it for the first time. It is also important that periodically, 

we're also briefed. As a state government, it's important that we 

Continued in page 10

SUNDAY NOV 1 




synergise with the Federal Government to ensure that we 

actualise some of these things like others suggested here. 

Other policies and programmes can be channeled 

through the state government with active supervision by the 

federal government. Then those things will work. When you hear 

huge sums of money without the state or local government input, 

you leave room for people divert and do whatever they want. At 

the end, such good policies suffer. One thing you have done here 

today, talking to Benue public, you have succeeded in 

enlightening us, we're happy about this. 

Herdsmen Attacks and Return Of Displaced Communities 

When we offer suggestions, were not antagonising government. 

Take for instance the issue of herdsmen. There was a time that 

Benin republic, even though they were depending on Nigeria, 

rejected Fulani herdsmen not to come into their country. But here 

we've opened doors. Which country in the world will open its 

doors that everybody should come in? One of my colleagues, a 

PDP governor who said that the Fulani is a global citizen and does 

not have need for visa to enter any country. I said how can you talk 

like that? So of you're a Fulani man from Senegal, Niger, Chad, 

Mali, you're free to come into Nigeria without a visa? It is wrong, 

and i stand to be corrected. Nigeria has a Constitution that must be 

obeyed. We're in a democratic rule. And democracy is anchored 

on the rule of law and not lawlessness. It is wrong. I tried to tell 

that my colleague that it was wrong and against the constitution of 

the federal republic of Nigeria. We have Fulani who are Nigeria 

and indigenous. Nobody will complain about them. They've held 

positions. Even here in Benue, I've appointed Fulani men into my 

government. It's not about sentiments. It is painful. When this 

people come here and kill our people, you'll hear high ranking 

government officials say it's not true. That they're entitled to carry 

AK47. We want a definite statement from this. 

These killings by herdsmen must stop. Unfortunately, they're not 

sparing anyone. Even in Mr President 's state, they are battling 

with it. Something has to be done. We must come together, to find 

a lasting solution to check our borders. And if people penetrate 

our borders with that level of impunity or because they are Fulani, 

they should be sanctioned. I disagree with that. 

Hon Minister, I join HRM the Tor Tiv to say that, the 

Vice President came here sometime ago and assured us that the 

federal government will find a way of supporting the IDP's to go 

back to their homes. It's not an easy thing. Go and see the 

deplorable conditions of our IDP'S. They have suffered enough. 

Some of them who attempted to go back were killed. Some of 

them cannot even talk of going back because there's no shelter. If 


Traditional Rulers/Stakeholders at the Presidential Briefing 

there's a way of providing support to them, the security agencies 

in Benue state are ready to give the backing and the support to 

help these people to go back to their communities. But when you 

stay in Makurdi or Abuja and say IDP's should go back to their 

homes without providing support for them, how do you want 

them to go? Put yourselves in their shoes. We'll be happy, if 

you're able to get support from the federal government. We must 

not necessarily say that money should be giving to the state 

government. It can be given to the IDP's directly. We can work 

together to ensure a smooth transition for them to move back to 

their various homes. The issue of banditry and attacks by 

herdsmen have continued. Most of the kidnaping we have in 

Benue state today, these herdsmen are either working alongside 

with the indigenous people and kidnaping. 

War Against Corruption, Justice and Equity 

The challenge we have with the issue of corruption. If we're 

fighting corruption, let it be holistic and not selective. Let it be 

transparent. The war against corruption started with Obasanjo 's 

regime not just President Buhari. We saw some elements that 

looks as being selective. The day this will have elements of 

being selective or perceived enemies is not 

correct. Nobody will want corruption to 

thrive in his state or country. But in a 

situation where people have stolen billions 

of naira and are even in government and 

working freely while those who steal 

chicken prosecuted and jailed, that is 

injustice. 

Late Maitama Sule advised the 

President in 2015 when he was elected 

president. He dwelt so much on dealing 

with all everyone justly. Maybe that's what 

prompted the President to declare that he's 

president of Nigeria and for everybody and 

for nobody. Let those words be manifested 

practically in its true sense, then we'll 

appreciate. People may not talk but they're 

are not happy and angry. There should be 

no sacred cows. If you're fighting 

corruption, let's fight it. If you're not 

fighting, let us leave it and let everybody 

survive the way he wants. My position is 

that, we need to sit and look at this matter critically and then 

draw a line. Otherwise, I appeal that some of these governor's 

who were jailed because of three hundred million should be 

released. I don't see why someone will be accused of over 

N100bn, he will still be in the cabinet of the federal government, 

another person is accused of N300 million and is in jail and 

nobody is talking about that. The issue of impunity and mischief 

must be addressed. 

Why I Supported ENDSARS 

My reasons for supporting #EndSARS is this: This protest is not 

just talking about EndSARS. It's an accumulated anger from the 

people because of several injustices, unfairness and 

maltreatment over the years. In several ways things like 

corruption, bad governance, impunity and all those things put 

together. And as long as they are peaceful. And appreciate Benue 

Youths for the honour they gave me. It should be the Benue 

youths themselves that should be appreciated. Assuming they 

had not listened to me and went ahead to be violent? 

I return all those appreciation to you the Benue youths 

for this honour you've done to me. I was motivated at my level. 

What we discussed at the National Economic Council was to set 

up a judicial panel of Inquiry, to ascertain assess all those who 

were brutalised by SARS and to also recommend ways. We're 

one of the first states to swear the panel in. They're doing the 


TUESDAY NOV 3rd: 


Amb Adikwu describes Alli as 

an exceptional leader 

Hon George Alli, (2nd right) posses here with the Ambassador designate, Adikwu(2nd left) and some of his aides. 

Ambassadorial designate, Amb. Paul Adikwu, at the weekend paid a 

courtesy call on the Otukpo local government, Chairman, Hon. 

George Alli, and described him as an "exceptional leader". 

Desmond Oogwu, Special Adviser, Media and Gender Affairs to the 

Otukpo Local Government Chairman said 

Amb. Adikwu, paid glowing tributes to the 

Otukpo council boss, saying he was 

"delighted by Hon. Alli's warm spirit and 

receptive nature towards people". He also 

praised the Chairman for all the good 

works he is doing in Otukpo. 

The Ambassador designate also 

thanked Idoma sons and daughters for 

their massive support to him during his 

nomination and screening by the Nigerian 

Senate. 

Hon Alli while welcoming the 

Ambassador-designate said he is honoured 

by the visit as he welcomed Amb. Adikwu 

to Otukpo, saying "as an Otukpo son, I am 

glad to say Otukpo people in particular, are 

proud of Ambassador Paul Adikwu and 

pray God to grant him uncommon favour 

and wisdom wherever he is posted to". 

Amb. Adikwu, a former school 

Principal, is one of the 41 non-career 

Ambassadors, appointed by President Muhammadu 

Buhari, in July 2020 and screened by the Nigerian 

Senate, awaiting their posting. 

Alli Wades into Otobi/Akpa Crises, 

Sues For Peace 

Hon George Alli, (2nd right) posses here with the Ambassador designate, Adikwu(2nd left) and some of his aides. 

ollowing the crises which erupted in Otobi/Akpa community which led to the death of a 24 

Fyear old, Abel Agbo on Monday, November 2nd 2020, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo 

Local Government Council, Hon. George Alli visited the community on a fact finding 

mission and sued for peace. 

Desmond Oogwu, Special Adviser to the Chairman on Media and Gender Affairs in a 

statement said Hon. Alli was accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Otukpo 

Division, SP. Yahaya Bawa and other leaders in the local government. 

The Otukpo Council Chairman while addressing the community elders and other 

people said he had was shocked at the eruption of the crises but thanked the elders and people of 

the community for not letting the matter spill out of control. 

In his words, "I came here to know what led to this unrest. I want to thank you for 

bringing the situation under control. It could have been worse. Thank you for exercising 

restraints by not taking laws into your own 

hands. I want to assure you, justice will be 

served". 

An elder in the community, Chief 

Odeh Adukpe, while lamenting the death of 

their son, told the Otukpo council chairman 

that the community decided to follow the path 

of peace in the matter out of respect for 

administration and said, they hope justice will 

be served. 

"Chairman, we are greatly saddened 

by the death of our son in the hands of the same 

people who were accused of killing his parents. 

We are not afraid of taking a life for a life, but 

we respect you and we know you will ensure 

that justice is served in this matter. We want 

justice," Chief Adukpe said. 

Johnson Agbo, younger brother to 

the late 3rd class Chief also spoke in similar 

tone. 

The oldest person in the community, 

Elder. Agbo Ikese, explained the matter in 

details saying it was the chieftaincy tussle 

which led to the death of the late chief and his 

wife, that claimed his young sons life. 

The former state lawmaker said no stone will 

be left unturnd to get to the root of the matter. 

The DPO, Yahaya Bawa also 

thanked the community for not letting the 

matter get out of hand, saying the matter will be 

thoroughly investigated and justice will be 

served. 


WEDNESDAY NOV 4th: 


No Male Genital Organ Missing 

in Daudu - Ortom 

Gov Ortom at the emergency meeting in Daudu Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Titus Uba and 

HRH, the Tee Guma, Chief Dennis Shemberga. 

HRH The Tee Guma, Chief Dennis Shemberga addressing the community. 

Benue State Commissioner of Police, MG Mukkadas discussing with 

the Special Adviser on Security, Lt Col Paul Hemba. 

ollowing several days of alleged 

Fdisappearance of male genital 

organs in Daudu, a town on the 

outskirts of Makurdi the Benue state 

capital and the resultant violence in the 

area, Governor Samuel Ortom on 

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 visited 

Daudu to ascertain the veracity or 

otherwise of the allegations. 

T h e G o v e r n o r w h o w a s 

accompanied by the Commissioner of 

Police, Mukadas Garba, the Speaker of the 

Benue State House of Assembly, Titus 

Uba and some members of the State 

Executive Council, after listening to 

elders, traditional rulers and other 

stakeholders including some of the 

supposed victims, discovered that the 

allegations were false as one of the victims 

could not prove his allegation while others 

refused to step forward. 

Governor Ortom dispelled the rumour 

about male genital organs disappearance 

in Daudu, saying it is untrue and only 

m e a n t t o e n c o u r a g e h a t r e d a n d 

underdevelopment. 

He lamented that while the 

negative effect of the displacement of 

thousands due to herders attacks was 

still being felt, it was unthinkable for 

youths to embark on destruction of 

p r o p e r t y f o r a n o n e x i s t e n t 

disappearance of genital organs. 

The Governor noted that such 

allegations could scare people who 

come to Daudu for investment 

purposes, saying obedience to law and 

order must be encouraged at all times. 

W h e n t h e G o v e r n o r 

requested that those who alleged that 

their private parts were removed 

through supernatural means should 

come out, only one did and when asked 

to prove his allegation, he was not able 

to do so as his genital organ was 

confirmed by to be intact. 

According to him, the claims 

were only meant to encourage hatred 

and underdevelopment of the area. 

He expressed regrets that 

while the people had yet to recover 

from the effects of herders' attacks, “it 

was unthinkable for the youth in the 

area to embark on destruction of 

p r o p e r t y f o r a n o n e x i s t e n t 

disappearance of genital organs”. 

The governor, who requested 

those with complaints of missing 

genital organs to present themselves 

for physical examination, only one 

person turned out but could not prove 

his claim of genital disappearance 

hence his male organ was still intact. 

Ortom appealed to the people 

to refrain from resorting to jungle 

justice and to report all criminal 

activities to the security agencies. 

He warned that any case of 

breakdown of law and order would be 

tackled by security agents rather than 

people resorting to jungle justice 

which does no one any good. 

Ter Guma, Chief Dennis 

Shemberga acknowledged the role 

played by some elders and other 

stakeholders including security agents 

in restoring peace in Daudu, saying the 

Governor's visit was timely as it would 

end the unrest. 

With additional reports 


WEDNESDAY NOV 4th: 


Ortom Acknowledges Army's 

Contributions to Peace in Benue 

Gov Samuel Ortom giving his funeral oration. 

Gov Ortom and Gen Njoku. 

Maj Gen Njoku who represented the Chief of Army Staff 

Family of the late Brig Gen. CI Dewua. 

Gen Njoku handing over the flag to late Gen Dewua's son, Terfa. 

HRH, Chief Daniel Abomtse, Ter Ityoshin at the burial. 

enue State Governor, 

BS a m u e l O r t o m h a s 

a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e 

enormous contributions of the 

Nigeria Army to the relative peace 

being experienced in the state. 

Governor Ortom spoke 

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 

during a funeral oration in honour of 

late Brig. Gen. Charles Dewua at 

Tse Awuna, Mbachohon in Gwer 

West local government area. 

The Governor conveyed 

B e n u e S t a t e g o v e r n m e n t ' s 

appreciation to the Nigeria Army for 

providing the needed security that 

had made it possible for the citizens 

to enjoy relative peace, saying the 

effectiveness of Operation Whirl 

Stroke was partly the reason for the 

reduction of attacks on Benue 

communities by herdsmen. 

He described the death of 

Gen. Charles Dewua as painful, 

saying the deceased would be 

remembered for his selfless 

service to the Nation. 

Also speaking, Major 

General E. M Njokwu, Chief of 

Transportation and Innovation, 

Nigeria Army who represented 

the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen 

Tukur Burutai described the 

deceased senior Military 

colleague as a thorough bred 

personality with a good sense of 

purpose who would be missed by 

the nation. 

On his part, the Special 

Adviser to the Governor on 

L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t a n d 

Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ken 

Achabo expressed gratitude to 

Governor Ortom, the chief of 

Army staff and all those that took 

time to attend the burial, adding 

that the family of the deceased 

was honoured by such show of 

solidarity during its trying 

moment. 

Te r Ty o s h i n , C h i e f 

Daniel Abomtse, appealed to the 

Nigeria Army to consider the 

admission of Tyoshin youths 

into the Nigeria Defence 

Academy to compensate for the 

loss being incurred, while in 

separate orations chairman of 

Gwer West Grace Igbabon and 

t h e P r e s i d e n t T y o s h i n 

Development Association 

Innocent Anume said they were 

pained by the death of many of 

their illustrious sons and prayed 

for a stop of the ugly trend. 

In a sermon, reverend 

Father Peter Bandele said what 

matters about death was in 

whose hands one might die but 

not when, noting that the 

challenge was for believers to 

strive to die in the hands of God 

to make Heaven. 

Reported by Jimin Geoffrey 


THURSDAY, NOV 5th: 


Ortom Pledges Support to FRSC, 

Calls for Change in Focus 

Engr Benson Abounu, the Deputy Governor of Benue State in a Group photograph with ACM Kayode Olagunju, Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS4 and other officers of the Corps in his office. 

overnor Samuel Ortom 

Gof Benue State has 

pledged to give his full 

support to the Federal Road 

Safety Corps, FRSC to enable it 

fulfill its mandate to the people 

of the state, just as he called on 

the agency to redirect it's 

a t t e n t i o n f r o m c h e c k i n g 

particulars of documents of 

vehicles to checking the 

proficiency of drivers using the 

roads. 

T h e g o v e r n o r w h o 

decried the situation where 

majority of the drivers on our 

roads did not take the mandatory 

road test as was done in the past, 

spoke Thursday, November 5, 

2020 at the Benue People's 

House, Makurdi, when he 

received the Zonal Commanding 

Officer, Zone RS4, Asst. Corps 

Marshall Kayode Olagunju. 

The Governor who was 

represented by his Deputy, Engr 

Benson Abounu also decried the 

lack of a towing vehicles and 

ambulance by the state sector of 

the command and promised to 

Engr Abounu receiving a plaque from the FRSC Official. 

come to its assistance adding that the 

FRSC is an important partner of 

government which must be given all 

the support it needs. 

E a r l i e r , 

commander, who superintends 

Plateau, Nassarawa and Benue States 

c o m m e n d e d t h e B e n u e S t a t e 

government for being a ''good partner 

to the corps in the implementation of 

the National Uniform Licensing 

Scheme'' as well as in its robust 

interventions in support of the agency 

in areas of accommodation, 

repairs of patrol vehicles, and 

allocation of land for construction 

of its permanent office complex. 

t h e z o n a l H e c a l l e d f o r m o r e 

collaboration and support from 

the state government during this 

period of the EMBER months to 

enable the command facilitate a 

smooth, accident free period. 

Reported by Attah Michael Onazi 


FRIDAY NOV 6th: 


Benue Youth Summit 

Non Partisan 

he Steering Committee for Tersoo Baki as members. 

Tthe proposed Benue Youth More so, Jimin explained, "the 

S u m m i t , 2 0 2 0 h a s summit was a child of necessity arising 

dismissed speculations that the from a presidential briefing anchored by 

planned summit is a Peoples the Benue State leader of APC and 

Democratic Party, PDP affair. Minister for Special Duties and 

Aondona Mkor, an aide to Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator 

the Minister of Special Duties and George Akume. 

Intergovernmental Affairs , Senator "Let it be known to the general 

George Akume alleged on his public that during a meeting of the 

writer handle that the planned Chairman and Secretary of the Steering 

Summit was politically motivated Committee, Governor Samuel Ortom 

by the leadership of the ruling and council chairmen as well as 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Secretary to the State Government, 

the state. 

Special Adviser to the Governor on 

He hinged his allegations Local Government and Chieftaincy 

on the fact that Council Chairmen Affairs among others, Governor Ortom 

who are all from the PDP had been directed that party chairmen in the 23 

given the privilege to nominate 50 local government areas be given 

participants each for the summit opportunities to nominate participants 

and so it has become a party affair. for the summit." 

In a statement by Jimin He said the directive by 

Geoffrey, Chairman Media and Governor Ortom "goes to prove, without 

Publicity Subcommittee for the any iota of doubt, that the summit 

event stated unequivocally that the embraces all youths of the state 

proposed Benue Youth Summit is a irrespective of political sentiments or 

non partisan exercise as the affiliations and so trying to give political 

constitution of the steering colouration to the summit is not in the 

committee was also non partisan interest of the state or Governor who has 

and has the state youth leaders of proactively risen to the challenge to 

A P G A , A D C a n d t h e A l l proffer a lasting solution to the concerns 

Progressives Congress, APC, of Benue youth occasioned by the 

EndSARS protests across the 

country." 

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e 

spokesperson of the Steering 

Committee, Governor Ortom at the 

meeting held Thursday, November 

5, 2020 which also had the Deputy 

Governor of the State, Engineer 

Benson Abounu, emphasized that 

all interest groups in the State 

should be taken into consideration 

during the nominations for 

participants, stressing that "this is 

because the agitation that birthed the 

s u m m i t , w i t n e s s e d y o u t h 

participation across political and 

religious borders therefore the 

summit must draw same level of 

participation." 

Jimin further noted that 

when Governor Ortom mentioned 

his plans to organise a youth summit 

at the presidential briefing, tje 

Minister of Special Duties and 

Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator 

Akume commended the initiative 

and foresight of the Governor, 

pointing out that "it is therefore 

confusing for an aide of the Minister 

to contradict his position on the 

planning and execution of the 

summit," he stated. 


LEAD STORY 


Benue to spend N132.592Bn in 2021 

By Nathaniel Ikyur 

he Benue State government has 

Tproposed that it would spend the sum 

of One Hundred and Thirty-Two 

Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety-Two 

Million, Forty-One Thousand, Three Hundred 

and Ten Naira, N132,592,041,310.00 in the 

2021 appropriation year. 

Benue State Governor, Samuel 

Ortom who on Thursday, November 5, 2020 

presented the 2021 budget estimate to the 

Benue State House of Assembly for 

consideration and subsequent passage also 

announced that the proposed budget estimate 

represents an increase to the tune of 23.769bn 

or 18% from the 2020 revenue estimates. 

The Budget which is christened, 

'Budget of Resilience' seeks to place the state 

on the path of becoming economically selfreliant 

and enhance her economic recovery 

and growth from what he termed "the 

disruptive impact arising from COVID-19 

pandemic." 

According to Governor Ortom, the State's 

2021 Budget was projected on the benchmark 

of crude oil price of $40 per barrel and oil 

production at 1.86 million barrels per day with 

an exchange rate of N379 to the dollar. 

He explained that it is anticipated that the 

current stability in the oil sector will remain 

stable. 

The Benue state government has 

therefore projected that the state's share from 

the Federation Account Allocation Committee 

(FAAC) in 2021 will be the leading revenue 

source with an estimated figure of Fifty-Eight 

Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Eight 

Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Two 

Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-Seven 

Naira, N58,758,672,157 only. 

This is followed by Independent 

Revenue of Nineteen Billion, Seven 

Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Six 

Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Four 

H u n d r e d a n d F i f t y - Tw o N a i r a 

(N19,761,611,452) only. 

Other receipts are estimated at 

Thirty Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty- 

One Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty- 

Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and 

Two Naira (N30,261,757,702) only, while 

Domestic Bonds, Loans and deficit 

financing are a combined estimate of 

Twenty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and 

Ten Million Naira (N23,810,000,000) 

only. 

G o v e r n o r O r t o m a l s o 

announced that the proposed fiscal year 

2021 recurrent expenditure stands at 

Ninety Billion, Eight Hundred and Ten 

Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-One 

Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty- 

Nine Naira (N90,810,951,749) only, 

representing 68% of the total budget. 

This figure, according to 

Governor Ortom is made up of the sum of 

Forty-Nine Billion, Three Hundred and 

Thirty-Eighty Million, Two Hundred and 

Fifteen Thousand, Two Hundred and 

Sixty-Three Naira N49,338,215,266 only 

for Personnel cost, representing 37% of 

the budget, while the sum of Forty-One 

Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two 

Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six 

Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty- 

Four Naira, N41,472,736,484 only, or 

31%, is for overhead costs. 

The governor also explained 

that, in preparing the 2021 Budget 

estimates, the state government focused 

on programmes and projects that will 

further strengthen the resilience and 

recovery of the people in the face of the 

manifold challenges they have already 

faced. 

According to him, "We need to 

recover as quickly as possible from the 

disruptive impact of the economic 

downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic in 

order to keep our State on the path to 

becoming an economically self-reliant 

federating unit of Nigeria. 

For that reason, the governor 

went on, "we need to focus on measures 

that will enhance our economic recovery 

and growth. We must support our 

hardworking farmers and micro, small and 

medium enterprises to recover and rebuild 

their operations. We have to find 

innovative ways to support struggling 

households and individuals to survive and 

to thrive. We need to create opportunities 

for jobs and wealth creation for our 

teeming population of young men and 

women and to ensure that they have the 

education and skills to seize these 

opportunities," he stated. 

Ortom noted that the main 

considerations underpinning the approach 

to the 2021 Budget proposals is to be 

faithful to the key principles captured in 

the appropriation proposals and remain 

true to the core public financial 

management principles of a realistic, 

responsive and transparent budget 


LEAD STORY 


preparation and implementation process. 

These principles, he said, included 

the provision of infrastructure with positive 

impact on the ease of doing business and the 

living standard of the people of the State as 

well as community consultation, mobilisation 

and engagement in the design and 

implementation of priority projects and 

programmes. 

The proposed aggregate expenditure 

for fiscal year 2021 is projected at One 

Hundred and Thirty-Two Billion, Five 

Hundred and Ninety-Two Million, Forty-One 

Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira 

(N132,592,041,310) only. 

The capital expenditure budget is the 

sum of Forty-One Billion, Seven Hundred and 

Eighty-One Million, Eighty-Nine Thousand, 

Five Hundred and Sixty-One Naira 

(N41,781,089,561)) only, representing 31% 

of the total budget. 

This amount will be appropriated into 

personnel, overhead and capital expenditure. 

(Insert 2021 Allocation of Recurrent and 

Capital Expenditure here in tabular form) 

Governor Ortom emphasised that 

the recurrent expenditure estimates in the 

2021 budget reflects the continued 

commitment by his administration to 

faithfully pay the salaries of our workers 

and meet other obligations under the new 

pension law while also keeping faith with 

the payment of pensions for those already 

retired. 

The governor disclosed that 

provision for essential "overheads 

expenditure, with emphasis on items of 

that relevance to our quest to promote 

resilience and recovery, including grants 

to poor households and micro, small and 

medium enterprises to cushion the impact 

of COVID-19. 

While explaining further on the 

proposed budget 2021, Governor Ortom 

said the capital expenditure estimates 

reflect the administration's continuing 

commitment to job-creating and wealth 

generation through agricultural value 

chain development which he said has 

"adequate provisions for key inputs such 

as land development, mechanisation, 

provision of inputs to farmers, including 

fertiliser, seeds and seedlings, irrigation 

and chemicals, services and access roads 

and bridges to facilitate the evacuation of 

produce to markets." 

Similarly, the governor pointed 

out that the provision for infrastructure 

remains the largest component of the 

administration's capital expenditure 

estimates which he said is in line with his 

desire to revamped educational and health 

infrastructure. 

To this end, Ortom noted, "we 

have made ample provisions for 10 critical 

arterial road projects spanning hundreds 

of kilometres across the three senatorial 

z o n e s " a n d a l s o h a s c o n c l u d e d 

a r r a n g e m e n t s " t o c o n t i n u e t h e 

construction of township roads in all our 

major towns and local government areas 

to promote economic and commercial 

activities in the urban economy." 

On the other hand, the governor 

said that in the 2021 appropriation 

proposals, government will continue it's 

investment in the critically important 

Benue Geospatial Information Service 

Making the Budget Work for Benue State 

■ State-wide payroll reform, including the deployment of technology using the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System 

(NIBSS). 

■ Full implementation of the Treasury Single Account. 

■ Completion of the BENGIS project to enhance data for planning and monitoring as well as improve revenue 

administration. 

■ Undertaking debt sustainability analysis with the aim of restructuring some of our existing financial obligations and 

thereby reducing the monthly repayment burden on our revenues. 

■ Establishment of a budget intelligence unit to strengthen the existing Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance to 

monitor the quality of expenditure. 

■ The implementation of the new Laws passed by the government to strengthen fiscal responsibility, public procurement 

and debt management. 

■ Procurement Commission to work on a framework that will provide links to the Federal Government database for 

procurement and contract pricing in support of Benue State Law to promote open and competitive procurement. 

■ Strict compliance with the extant provisions of the Benue State Procurement Law, Debt Management Law and the 

Fiscal Responsibility Act. 

■ Tighten the belt on expenditure across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government. 

■ Adoption of technology to block leakages in revenues and expenditure, including Salaries and Pension Payments, and 

in tracking and reporting budget implementation; 

■ Sustaining the implementation of financial management reforms to ensure prudent management of resources, value 

for money, accountability and transparency in government revenues, expenditure and debt; 

■ Implementation of a comprehensive Pension Reform programme; 

■ Utilising the budget as an instrument to achieve the goals articulated in our blueprint – “Our Collective Vision for a 

New Benue” and the Benue State Development Plan 2016-2025. 

■ Benue to establish Budget Intelligence unit - Ortom 


LEAD STORY 


2021 Allocation of Recurrent and Capital Expenditure 

A. RECURRENT EXPENDITURE N90,810,951,749 

I. Personnel Cost N49,338,215,266 

ii. Overhead Cost N41,472,736,484 

B. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE N41,781,089,561 

C. TOTAL N132,592,041,310 

2021 Sectoral Allocation Estimates 

I. Economic = N51,380,902,302 

ii. Social = N44,523,544,164 

iii. Administrative 

= N33,846,563,092 

iv. Law and Justice 

= N2,841,021,752 

(BENGIS) project, saying the project is 

expected to begin to realise its benefits as from 

2022. 

In the health sector, Governor Ortom 

explained that adequate provisions have been 

made for the health services sector with 

substantial additions in the budget to provide 

specifically for the control of COVID-19 and 

care for those infected, while other significant 

provisions are made for interventions to 

address the impact of the pandemic on fragile 

livelihoods and businesses. 

According to the governor, these 

additions in the health sector include 

budgetary provision for palliatives for poor 

and vulnerable citizens, proviosn of 

agricultural inputs, construction of access 

roads and basic rural infrastructure to support 

farmers and protect the food supply chain. 

Spokesman of the Benue State 

Assembly, Hon Terstsea Gbiseh in an 

interview journalists after the presentation, 

commended Governor Ortom for the early 

presentation of the 2021 budget, noting that 

the Assembly is ready to do due diligence to 

the proposals in the best manner possible, 

pointing out that this will help preserve the 

budget circle year to run from January to 

December" as it is ordinarily suppose to be. 

He expressed hope that the budget 

will be used to make a difference in the lives of 

Benue citizens. 

Benue To Establish Budget Intelligence Unit 

The Benue State Government is to 

establish a Budget Intelligence Unit as a 

deliberate policy of the Governor Samuel 

Ortom-led administration to improve the 

quality and impact of its expenditure. 

The governor stated this 

Thursday, November 5, 2020 at the Benue 

State House of Assembly while 

presenting the 2021 budget estimates to 

the lawmakers for consideration and 

passage. 

He noted that in addition to the 

establishment of the budget intelligence 

unit, the efficiency unit in the ministry of 

finance and economic planning will be 

empowered to monitor the quality of 

expenditure in government ministries and 

departments would also be strengthened 

for better performance. 

According to the governor, "We are 

working to improve the quality and 

impact of our expenditure. To this end, we 

are establishing a budget intelligence unit 

and also strengthening the existing 

efficiency unit in the ministry of finance to 

monitor the quality of expenditure," the 

Governor stated. 

T h e G o v e r n o r w h o 

acknowledged challenges of the 2021 

fiscal year budget estimates said 

deliberate steps were being taken to 

mitigate their impact on delivery of the 

2021 proposed budget. 

He stated that budgetary 

p r o v i s i o n s w e r e m a d e b y h i s 

administration to support diligent work 

being done by the state COVID-19 Action 

Committee head by the state Deputy 

Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu. 

He also noted that a State-wide payroll 

reform including the deployment of 

technology using the Nigeria Inter-Bank 

Settlement System, NIBSS to enhance 

sanity in the system. 

Governor Ortom stated that 

c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e B e n u e S t a t e 

Geographical Information System, 

BENGIS, would enhance data for 

planning and monitoring as well as 

improve revenue administration. 

According to the Governor, 

implementation of new laws passed by his 

administration would strengthen fiscal 

responsibility, public procurement and 

debt management among others. 

Governor Ortom had earlier 

presented the 2021 budget estimate of 

N132.592 billion to the State Assembly 

for consideration and subsequent passage. 



Ayua visits Operation Whirl 

Stroke's Jootar Camp 

Executive Chairman of Ukum LGC, Hon Stevie Ayua on Thursday October 29, 2020 paid a working visit to the Camp of Operation Whirl Stroke in Jootar. Pictures here shows the chairman interacting with the soldiers. 

Pix Courtesy: Information Unit, Ukum LGA 

he Executive Chairman, Ukum Local 

TGovernment Council, Hon. Stevie 

Terwase Ayua on Thursday, October 29, 

2020 paid a familiarization visit to Operation 

Whirle Stroke, Jootar, Mbayenge ward in Ukum 

Local Government area. 

The camp is comprised of Military 

men from 72 Batallion, Operation Whirle Stroke 

and Operation Ayem a Kpatema respectively. 

In a press statement by Kolough 

Clems, Personal Assistant on ICT to the 

chairman said the embarked on the impromptu 

visit to familiarize and know their challenges. 

He reiterated his administration's 

commitment in curtailing crime and criminality 

in Ukum Local Government Area, saying, as a 

law abiding citizen of Nigeria, he believes in a 

crime-free society which is a yardstick to 

economic and social development. 

He lauded the efforts of the security 

agencies in his local government and promised 

to support them at all times. 

He also charged on them to sustain the 

current tempo of surveillance in the local 

government, pointing out that it's only adequate 

security that make the citizenry sleep with their 

eyes closed. 

While urging all and sundry to 

embrace each other peacefully, Hon. Ayua 

advocated the need for peace and unity among 

Jootar residents and prayed God to take the lead. 

Responding on behalf of the Camp's 

Commander, CSM Mbane Ikechukwu 

expressed his deep appreciation to the Chairman 

for identifying with them. 

He described 

the visit as timely 

saying, it was the first of 

it's kind. 

A l s o 

Speaking, Staff Sergeant 

Aminu noted that, the 

presence of the Ukum 

L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t 

Council Chairman at 

their camp had already 

boosted their morale. 

They promised not to 

leave any stone unturned 

in making sure that, 

U k u m L o c a l 

Government Area is 

crime-free. 

Also on the 

chairman's entourage 

were, Leader of Ukum 

L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t 

Legislative Council, 

Hon. Samuel Mbatsav, 

t h e C o u n c i l l o r 

representing Mbayenge 

Council ward, Hon. 

P e t e r H ô n g o r , 

Supervisory Councilor 

for Agriculture and 

Natural resources, Hon. 

Igbaga John amongst 

various close Aides of 

the Chairman. 


SATURDAY NOV 7th: 


Otukpo Post Service Estate to be 

Completed Soon 

he Managing Director and Chief 

TE x e c u t i v e O ffi c e r o f t h e 

Nigerian Army Post Service 

Housing Development Limited, Brig 

Gen TT Numbere, has said that Post 

Service Estate of the Nigerian Army 

located in Otukpo will be completed on 

schedule. 

Gen Numbere spoke Saturday, 

November 7, 2020 when he paid a 

familiarisation visit to Otukpo where he 

met with the Executive Chairman of 

Otukpo Local Government Council, 

Hon. George Alli in his office. 

According to a statement by 

Desmond Oogwu, Special Adviser on 

Media and Gender Matters to the 

Chairman said Gen Numbere was 

accompanied on the visit by the 

Secretary, PHDL, Barr. Paul Ankwa 

Edeh. 

Brig Gen Numbere said he 

was in Otukpo to see the level of works 

done on the site. 

Numbere took over the 

company's affairs as Managing Director 

from Brig Gen Mahe Bashir who retired 

recently. 

Hon. George Alli thanked the senior 

Military officer on his visit to Otukpo 

and pledged the commitment of the 

Otukpo Local Government Council 

towards all that is required for the 

completion of the project, stressing 

that "this project is so important to for 

us in Otukpo". 

In the same vein, Air Vice Marshall 

Monday Morgan (Rtd), Chairman, 

BETONIQ (WEST) NIGERIA LTD, 

t h e c o m p a n y h a n d l i n g t h e 

construction works appreciated the 

MD/CEO for the visit. 

AVM. Morgan called on 

Otukpo people home and abroad, to 

come out enmass to subscribe to the 

project pointing out that, "there is no 

gainsaying the fact that this project is 

for the collective benefits of all 

Idomas". 

On his part, Barr. Paul Edeh, said, 

"now is the time for Idoma sons and 

d a u g h t e r s t o e m b r a c e t h i s 

development driven investment. It is 

a rare offer, no local government in 

Nigeria before now, had ever seen 

this kind of project, only state 

capitals". 

It will be recalled that on Thursday, 

August 16, 2018, in Abuja, Rt. Hon. George 

Alli and AVM. Monday Morgan signed the 

agreement for the Nigerian Army Post Service 

Housing Estate, with the management of 

PHDL. 

Oogwu noted that history was made 

when Otukpo, the traditional headquarter and 

pride of Idoma nation became the first 

town in Nigeria, outside a state capital, to 

benefit from this multi billion naira 

investment by the Nigerian Army since 

the inception of the scheme in 1996. 

The Nigerian Army has 28 estates in 16 

States capital across Nigeria including 

Makurdi. 


SUNDAY NOV 1 




secretariat work already and very soon they will commence 

public sitting. And I look forward where Benue people will step 

forward to testify before the panel. 

Moving Forward 

Gov Ortom: As way of moving forward, I've decided that we shall 

immediately organise a Youth Summit. We'll sit together with the 

youths, let us see areas of bad governance, let us see areas that 

have led to unsatisfactory performance that the youths are feeling 

threatened. Let us look at them and let's see how we can provide a 

solution. Whatever great ideas they have, we put them on the table 

and let's see how government succeed with this. 

The Need To Restructure Nigeria 

Gov Ortom: If you ask my opinion, we need to restructure our 

country without delay. Not the type of restructuring that will 

divide the country. I believe in one Nigeria. We're better as a 

people, living together as one Nigeria. But there are certain things 

that we can restructure. We can restructure the EFCC, ICPC, the 

relationship between the states and federal government as well as 

revenue formula in terms of generation and distribution. Even if 

we need to restructure the present presidential system of 

government, let's do it. Because, take for instance, at the federal 

level, we have 109 senators, 360 house of Representative 

members and other touchy issues. There's this issue of 

constituency projects and oversight functions. We can look at 

these and ask ourselves: do we need to go back to parliamentary 

system of government? Or do we need to design a political system 

that we can work through an envelope that will be convenient to 

all of us? These are the meaning to me of restructuring. 

Sovereign National Conference 

Gov Ortom: We can hold a Sovereign National Conference, 

where whatever decision we arrive at will be sovereign and 

nobody will temper with it. That can still be done. But my first 

suggestion is to agree for restructuring. In the absence of these 

two: Restructuring of our country or Sovereign National 

Conference, we can go back and dust the 2014 report of the 

National Conference report convocated by the administration of 

former President Goodluck Jonathan. We can look at that report 

because that conference had various interests across the country 

irrespective of political or ethnicity. If we take that, it can also 

help us. 


Federal Roads in Benue/infrastructure 

I want to appeal that Mr President should passionately look at 

the issue of federal roads in Benue State. I know the times are 

hardbut we need intervention. This is a desperate call. We need 

intervention on the federal, roads here. If contracts are to be 

given, they should not be given to substandard contractors. I 

give you an example, the road leading from Makurdi to Naka, a 

contractor came from the federal ministry of works, they were 

patching the road. Two weeks after, if you go through that road, 

no single patch that was done is still standing. 

Dredging River Benue 

Sometime back, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo came 

here when floods took over the state. They asked me what I 

thought will be a solution. I told them that the problem in Benue 

state, stretching from Katsina-Ala to Guma local government to 

Makurdi to Gwer West and Agatu is that river Benue is very 

shallow. It will require to be dredged. So we need the dredging of 

River Benue. That will solve the problem of flooding in the state. 

If not, it becomes worse when the water from the Camerounian 

dam is released. If this can be done, we'll deeply appreciate this. 

Return IDP's 

Gov Ortom: I join the Tor Tiv for the 

federal government to ensure that 

our Internally Displaced Persons, 

IDP go back to their ancestral 

homes. 

RAIL LINE: Another critical one is 

the issue of the rail line. For a long 

time, we understand that rail lines in 

sever other zones, the rail lines are 

now operational. We want the 

federal government to also make it 

as a top priority to ensure that the 

rail line passing through Makurdi 

here starts operations again. 

Appointment of Benue indigenes 

into Federal positions 

Gov Ortom: Again, let me appeal to 

Mr President through you to give 

Benue people appointments. In 

asking for this, it may not 

necessarily be to PDP members. 

They can give to APC because they 

are still Benue people. It's about value addition to the state. 

Maybe, Mr President will to be reminded that in the Presidential 

election, the PDP defeated the APC with only 10,000 votes or 

even less. So it means, we have a sizeable number of APC in the 

state. They can give them appointments. The federal 

government is not fair to Benue State in this area. They should 

give others appointment to support you. 

Appeal to the Youths 

Gov Ortom: I join others to appeal to our youths to be 

on the watch out. You have fought a just cause, the leaders have 

heard. The President has heard, governor's, local government 

chairmen have heard and I believe you have won because of 

your protest. But don't allow hoodlums to take over this your 

genuine efforts to ensure a better Benue State and a better 

Nigeria. On our part as government, we'll not allow hoodlums in 

anyway, to take over and become lords over the land. 

Let's take advantage of FG economic initiatives, Sen 

Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental 

Affairs, Senator George Akume was passionate in his delivery. 

His listed the many interventions the Buhari administration had 

done in addressing women and youth empowerment 

programmes since 2015. He encouraged Benue people to take 

advantage of these initiatives to enhance their economic 


SUNDAY NOV 1 




potentials. He also spoke to the parents and youths and urged 

everyone to be mindful of the violence since the consequences of 

war are better imagined than said. 

Hear him: 

You all spoke from the bottom of your hearts. The 

programme that I read out here exists in reality. They're not a 

philosopher - King programme. In some instances i read out 

figures. N-Power is working. The children are been fed through 

the School feeding programme. The challenge is for all of us to 

take advantage of these initiatives. When HRM, the Och'Idoma 

was talking, he drew your attention to this very important issue. 

In 1999, the central message was that, the economy must be 

private sector driven. Over 2000 government companies and 

parastatals were privatised. We were told, and also inclined to 

believe that, with privatisation, we'll have better functioning 

companies in the hands of private sector drivers. Somehow along 

the line, some mistakes were made. A lot of jobs were lost. The 

idea to generate more jobs in most cases did not materialise. 

This is why I say this is the time for you to take 

advantage of these initiatives. There's no doubt that all over the 

world, the economy is in the hands of the private sector. These 

initiatives are expected and intended to give you the opportunity 

to express yourselves maximally and efficiently in the private 

sector. 

The statement that the President didn't react immediate 

is not true. He acted swiftly and that's the truth. 

When the issue of EndSARS protests started with a five point 

agenda, he reacted swiftly. He scrapped the SARS and ordered 

immediate steps towards implementing these demands. That's 

why you have in most states, tribunals to look into cases of 

brutality committed by SARS. So many things are happening in 

respect to this five point agenda. 

And I also recall a statement made by the vice president 

with a lot of apologies. This followed by the President's statement. 

Yes maybe it's pent up anger. Otherwise, the issue was EndSARS. 

SARS was ended. Other demands then now followed. 

I want us, in advising the youths, to also take note of one 

that we should not play to the gallery. We appear to implicate 

ourselves. You learn from us, we learn from you too. 

The governor talked about more interventions in agriculture, 

synergy and the need for the return of the IDP's where the 

governor and HRM talked about. Appreciation of what the 

President has done about security here in Benue. The Youth 

Summit is very important. 

Sovereign National Conference: Who will take charge? 

In a situation where you have a democratically elected National 

Assembly, you will run into problems: who is going to do what? 

Who's going to take charge? These things have been tried in the 

past but they failed. Even the 2014 Conference report had its own 

problems. The number of people who came from the South 

outnumbered the others. That again wasn't justice. It's not fair. 

What's in the report? That report was compiled by who? I won't 

know those who represented me. I was at the National Assembly 

at that time representing the people of Zone B. Some people were 

handpicked to go and draft a report. And of course the national 

assembly rejected it. 

What I want us to know, is part of what the governor has 

also said. Revolutions are not a garden tea party. Some mentioned 

(not here) the French revolution how it started. Lost of touch with 

the people. Those who conceived and constructed the guillotine, 

got the guillotine themselves. It's not a win-win. It's not 

something to toy about. We have a large country called Nigeria. 

Very complex, structurally. If we make a mistake, Somalia will be 

a child's play. Libya is here, Iraq and Syria. This is serious thing 

we're talking about. Nobody gains. Those who will gain, perhaps 

gain in quote because it's not a gain. We don't pray for that. 

We believe there's quite a lot the National Assembly can 


do. And the Governor said, take a look at the constitution, 

Richard Akinjide made a comment about the 1979 Constitution 

that the 1979 still remains a monumental document of value in 

our country. No one federalism is the same. In 1999, before our 

inauguration, there was a workshop for governors-elect 

organised by the Democratic Institute where we were told that 

every country is different because of peculiar circumstances of 

every society. 

EndSARS/APPEAL 

I want to appeal to all of us; the youths, fathers and mothers of 

youths, that we gain more by engaging ourselves. By talking 

rather than self destroying the little things that we have. What is 

going on nationwide is not the best and that is not what the 

youths of this country set out to achieve. If the future belongs to 

the youths, there's no way there'll want to destroy it what they are 

going to inherit. When some thugs went to destroy Kings 

college, I don't think that is what a Nigerian youths are up to. I 

was a student at Ibadan, we never destroyed any property of the 

university even when we had demonstrations. These are all our 

properties and y the time we leave, others will come, learn and 

also leave. And so, no matter your grievances, channel your 

grievances to your governor. Am happy and I want to commend 

you with the very peaceful manner you carried out your own 

protests here. You're not rated great because you have destroyed. 

You're great because you believed. 

I commend you. And I want to appeal that we continue 

to maintain peace. We don't have anything in Benue. Rich 

people have private jets and so on, we don't have. So you want to 

go burn bungalows? That's not 

money. You'll just be making fun 

of yourselves. Let's build on the 

little we have rather than destroy. 

Don't allow bad boys to join you. 

HRM said you are not only 

patriotic, you're also intelligent. I 

believe what he said absolutely. 

And working together with the 

federal government, we can gain 

quite a lot for the good people of 

Benue. 

Och'Idoma 

He believes that unless Nigeria industrialises, the problem of 

youth agitations, seeking for white collar jobs will persist. In the 

same vein, he urged the youths to 

begin to think outside the normal 

educational certificates to be 

able to create safety nets in line 

with the federal government 

initiates on poverty alleviation as 

were outlined by the Minister of 

S p e c i a l D u t i e s a n d 

Intergovernmental Affairs, 

Senator George Akume. 

HRM, Prof James Ayatse, Tor 

Tiv V 

The Tor Tiv spoke on 

three areas, viz; one, appreciation, appeal and advise. The Tor 

Tiv commended the Governor on the way he handled the crises 

in Benue state. 

I want to put it on record publicly that the way you 

handled the crises in Benue State is commendable and should 

serve as an example to others. I appreciate this wonderful 

meeting. Hon Minister, I want to appreciate you and through 

you, to Mr President for this meeting. It has provided us an 


SUNDAY NOV 1 




opportunity to be briefed on what has happened, on what 

government has done to address the issues. It has also provided 

the opportunity for inputs from the participants. I guess that from 

here, there will also be words of advice. 

I have listened to the Minister's presentation. I was also 

privileged to have listened to the address by Mr President as he 

spoke to the nation and I can say clearly that this government has 

done a lot in terms of wonderful initiatives for the purposes of 

addressing some of the challenges in this country. The President 

mentioned them and the Minster has elaborated on them. But the a 

concern I have. You look at the EndSARS, it's us a euphemism for 

dissatisfaction. It's not just about SARS because Mr President 

took very quick actions to address that but the protests have 

continued. This shows that it's not just issue of SARS, there are 

other issues too. As I listened to the Ministry roll out a long list of 

wonderful interventions, and the fact that we still have projects, I 

have questions that came to my mind: are these initiatives really 

reaching the people? Because if they were there would have been 

a difference. 

Implementation Of Policy is Key 

The Tor Tiv appealed to Mr President to sit back and look at these 

wonderful policies. How is the implementation? Monitoring and 

evaluation, impact. You can have wonderful things on paper but is 

it impacting the lives of the people? 

Benue Youth 

I join others to commend the Benue youths. People have said 

they're matured, I want to add another adjective, they are 

intelligent. They have demonstrated their intelligence and 

maturity. I want to also say that the youth are perceiving the 

actions of government differently from the way government is 

perceiving it's actions. There is a gap. And I believe that the 

managers of the system should look at that gap and close it so that 

we'll see clearly what is been done. That will build confidence and 

trust. We often underestimate youth. And very often they know 

what they're saying. And therefore, as much as possible, actions 

should be taken quickly to address those specific issues so that this 

matter will be laid behind us and we move forward. If we don't 

arrest this at this time and we allow it to prolong, it may be an ugly 

situation. 

The Role Of Traditional Rulers 

The role of traditional rulers is to stabilise and support 

government in power whether at state or federal irrespective of 

political party. I want to commend the traditional institution in 

Benue state for playing that role. We have together supported the 

Benue State Government and the federal government. We don't 

want crises. When there's crises, traditional rulers that stay with 

the people suffer most. Therefore we want everything that will be 

done for the sake of peace to be done. We don't want crises. 

I want to appeal to the mature, intelligent youth of 

Nigeria that they have made their point. Government has listened 

to them, let peace returns we awaits government action to a dress 

the challenges. 

The Tor Tiv also urged the federal government to 

quickly reach agreement with ASUU so that the universities will 

reopen. That way, our children will go back to school and be busy. 

I appeal for flexibility on both sides. 

EndSARS: Ortom was Proactive, Unongo 

"Let me appreciate Mr Governor first. What has happened in 

Lagos and in Makurdi has given Nigeria a testimony to learn a lot 

of lessons. In 1960, we the youths of Nigeria, led by some of us, 

the national union of Nigerian students, went to the parliament, to 

demonstrate, not against Nigeria's independence but we were 

demonstrating against the Anglo-Nigeria defence Pact. Some of 

us were bruised, some of us were beaten up. But we stood firm. 


They didn't kill us but we were able to make the government 

then to walk back from the Nigera-Anglo defence pact which 

would have made us a target for Russia's nuclear arsenal. I 

appreciate you very much Mr Governor. My children were in 

that March and they said you came out, you walked, and went 

and met them. And by the time you finished talking to the 

students, they had nothing to say again tan to do exactly what 

you had advised. I would like to encourage you. Government. I 

know the youths don't want to destroy this country. They want 

justice, fairness. They want to be allowed to be listened to. 

Tafawa Bala listened, there was no chaos. You listened, there 

are no demonstrations in Makurdi. Mr President as represented, 

I spoke in this same place when he was here himself. I told him 

that his plans are usually good but the implementations are 

delayed for too long. When things happen, he should take it very 

seriously. Mr President should intervene proactively like Ortom 

did. He's looked upon as then 

father of the nation. The youths 

were looking for him to address 

them. We should not be afraid of 

addressing the youth. Ortom did, 

he got the result. He should learn 

from him. If a governor does 

something and gets a good result, 

he should be presented to 

Nigeria. Don't be afraid of 

meeting your people. You did 

well and you got very good 

results. 

Wantaregh Paul Unongo 

Gov Ortom acted Timely...Gemade 

"I expressed my great appreciation to Benue people, especially 

the youth of this state. I appreciate the governor for holding this 

meeting and all that he did during the events of the EndSARS 

protests. This action has done a lot to promote even our 

representatives in the government of President Muhammadu 

Buhari. Because the press are quick to vindicate when people 

complain against certain actions that thise people do not like the 

governor. And so, all the staes that had youths burning and 

destroying things, they were quick to say they don't like the 

present government in those states. At least nobody can say that 

about Benue State. Indeed, we have nothing against the 

g o v e r n m e n t o f P r e s i d e n t 

Muhammadu Buhari. And our 

representative, the Honourable 

Minister will be proud in Abuja 

that we did not cause any riot 

here in Benue state. I commend 

the youths. And I assure you that 

as one of those that have 

occupied public office before 

a n d m a y i n f a c t o c c u p y 

publicnoffice again in future, 

we'll do everything to protect our 

youth." 

Sen BAI Gemade 

No Ethnic Group Will Colonise Us Again, Prof Saror 

“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for sending Senator 

Akume to address this meeting. The End SARS protest is a 

product of accumulated anger and misdeeds of government. The 

President knows what the Fulanis have done to Benue people 

and Nigerians but has chosen to keep quiet and only says people 

should learn to live together with Fulanis. Corruption, nepotism, 

sentiments and other negative tendencies have taken over 

governance. The youths no longer have confidence in the 


SUNDAY NOV 1 




system. Water Resources Bill is obnoxious and meant to cater for 

the interest of an ethnic group. 

What gives the federal government rights to say they 

will come and take control of the water ways without amending 

the constitution? It makes no sense. And yet, for their own 

peculiar interest, to cater for a particular group of people, they are 

pursuing that Bill. We as Nigerians, we as Benue people who do 

not need to be controlled by another ethnic group or anywhere 

else. We don't and let Mr President appreciate this. Even if 

historically someone wants to do that, we've adopted the Nigerian 

Constitution which allows us freedom that's not encapsulated in 

their own arrangements. Mr Governor, this anger you see, which 

you're addressing now, is an 

excellent job, the rural, areas of 

Benue state where there's hunger 

and poverty and illness, are in dire 

need, please help them with 

whatever programme to improve 

their lot. So that they too can have 

hope. Help us ro help you ro runa a 

formidable state where our youth 

continue to be progressive. 

Prof Daniel Saror, former Vice 

Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello 

University, Zaria 

There's should be Justice...Gen Kpera (Rtd) 

"When I was coming to Makurdi for this meeting, I got another 

message from one judge from our state. This was indicating a 

threat by our youths, next on judges for neglecting their jobs and 

forcing the rule of law and delivering injustice. Now, EndSARS 

as many people have said, is the branch or the branches. The main 

root of our problems are the neglect of the application of the rule 

of law and injustice in the country. 

Details are known to everyone of 

us. If there's silence when one man 

kills another and absolutely no 

action is taken, they will be 

emboldened. They law that 

forbids killing, the law that forbids 

injustice, is not properly applied 

equitably on all people. That 

should be brought to the attention 

of everybody that matters 

including Mr President. The rule 

of law is the pillar of success of 

any nation." 

Gen John Atom Kpera Rtd 

Gov Ortom is Proactive 

“Benue youths have proven that they love their state Benue. I call 

on Governor Samuel Ortom to keep up the good work. Governor 

Ortom took the bull by the horn by promptly addressing the 

protesters and engaged constructively. The Governor involved all 

stakeholders in the distribution of 

Palliatives to local government 

areas and it was transparently 

done. I implore other leaders to 

learn from him on how to address 

issues promptly. If the President 

had timely responded to the 

youths, there wouldn't have been 

any destructions. We demand an 

apology from the President for not 

sending condolences to families 

of those who lost their lives in the 

course of the protests." 

Josephine Haba, Civil Societies 


Let ASUU Go Back to Class 

“Your Excellency the Governor, you have been so supportive of 

the youths and the protests in 

Benue were peaceful due to your 

love for the youth. We appreciate 

you sir. Let disagreement 

between government and ASUU 

be resolved so that students can 

go back to school. Similarly, let 

the age limit in employment be 

taken out to give room for 

graduates who are affected by 

prolonged strike actions." 

John Mark , National Youth 

Council 

Let the Fulani vacate our ancestral lands, CP Ihagh (Rtd) 

"I don't have much to say other than to thank the youths of Benue 

State. They have done wonderfully well. They did not copy from 

other states. If they had wanted, they would have done the same 

thing other youths from those states were doing but they said no, 

Benue State is a very poor state. We don't have money here. So I 

want to thank the youths of Benue for not getting involved in 

what the youths of other states were doing. I commend the 

youths. Other states will now learn from them. Hon Minister, I 

want to send this message to Mr President. I attended a seminar 

organised by the military last 

week and they erroneously said 

there were no IDP's in Benue 

state. When I stood up, I told 

them no, there are a lot of IDP's. 

From Daudu, to Gwer West, 

Moon in Kwande. For the past 

six years or more, we have not 

gone to Moon. The Fulani are 

there and they are not allowing is 

to go home. We want our people 

to go home." 

CP Iorbee Ihagh Rtd, President 

General, Mough U Tiv 

Let's genuinely reform the Police 

“I want to appeal to the President to end SARS and genuinely 

reform the Police as he was also a 

victim of SARS brutality. The 

youths have actually not 

benefited the way they should 

and I wish to urge that this 

meeting be extended to the local 

government for more audience. I 

must commend Governor Ortom 

for his quick intervention." 

B a r r i s t e r A m a l i A d o y a , 

N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t 

O c h e t o h a k i ' I d o m a i n 

representative capacity 

What gives the federal government 

rights to say they will come and take 

control of the water ways without 

amending the constitution? It 

“makes no sense. 

” 


SUNDAY NOV 1 




I commend Benue youths 

“I commend Benue youths for 

their peaceful disposition in the 

cause of the protest and also 

commend the Governor for timely 

distribution of Palliatives meant 

for the poorest of the poor.” 

Comrade Abba Yaro, Benue State 

Chairman of APC 

We must learn to act fast in 

times like this, Ngbede 

“I join my colleague Abba Yaro in 

commending Governor Ortom for 

the maturity in handling the 

protests. I urge the Federal 

Government to always act fast 

when things are happening. 

Leaders need to act at the right 

time.” 

Sir John Ngbede, PDP State 

Chairman, Benue State 

Nigeria Needs Human Capital Development 

“Sixty five percent of the Nigerian population is made up of 

youths while Nigeria had given more attention to infrastructural 

development instead of human development. A lot of human 

structure had not been developed and that is why the humans are 

now destroying the infrastructure. 

The President's address did not 

address the needs of the youths. 

Until the Lekki incident, the 

youths had shown maturity and 

leadership dexterity throughout 

their protests. Compensations for 

SARS brutality and genuine 

investigations into all cases of 

brutality must be carried out. I 

want to call on the President to 

speedily address his people in 

such subsequent incidents." 

Pastor Dave Ogbole 

Youths are partners in progress 

“I appreciate Governor Samuel 

Ortom for his proactiveness when 

the protests started. Nigerian 

youths feel not carried along and I 

want to appeal to President Buhari 

to look at the youths as partners in 

progress without whom the 

country cannot develop. I thank 

the Governor for releasing funds 

f o r p a y m e n t o f b u r s a r y 

allowances to the students." 

Comrade Joshua Tiv, NUBESS 

President 

I commend Benue Youths 

“On behalf of CAN in Benue State, I want to first of all thank the 

Governor for this meeting. I want commend the Youths of 

Nigeria youths for what they had done. They have organise a 

very good protest across the nation. I want to let you know that 

we have three types of youths. The angry youth. The angrier 

youth. And the angriest youths. The angry youth started this 

protests - well organised. No destruction. But when their 

members were killed, the angrier youth became aggrieved ones 

joined. By the time angriest youths come, I want to assure you, 

market women, religious leaders and civil, servants will join the 

them. We pray that Nigeria will not get to that stage. And the 

youths in Benue state we commend you. We call on you to calm 

down. The federal, government has heard you loud and clear. 

The Honourable Minister, I want to send this message ro Mr 

President: we want to appeal to Mr President to, as a matter of 

urgency, call for a national conference to fix this nation. To 

recruit organise this nation. When it happens, all the issues 

raised by the youths will be tackled. Issues like water resources 

bill, CAMA and all other issues that are bordering on national 

security will be discussed. That is our request. If that is done, I 

think a lot of problems will be 

solved. As a church, we shall 

continue to support Mr President 

to succeed. And we are going to 

pray that Nigeria should not 

degenerate into Rwanda or any 

other country like that. To our 

dear governor, we commend 

you. We appreciate you. We shall 

continue to support you in our 

prayers.” 

R e v . A k p e n L e v a , C A N 

Chairman Benue State 

Ortom, Benue Youths have Demonstrated Patriotism 

"Your Excellency, everyone has said it here. You are proactive. I 

wish other leaders at the top were like you. Our great youths of 

Nigeria, just like our father Paul Unongo said, you demonstrated 

patriotism, maturity and you have the country in your heart. You 

have the belive that Nigeria belongs to all of us, Benue State 

belongs to all of us. So we pray for long live to Nigeria. And long 

live Benue state. To our governor, keep up the good work that 

you are doing." 

Alhaji Garba Baba, representative of the Moslem Community, 

Benue State 

“I thank the Governor for the positive action he had taken 

regarding the EndSARS protests. Today, there is peace in Benue 

because of the Governor's quick action during the protests. I also 

commend the youth for showing maturity in their protests. The 

church where most of the youths are from would continue to 

prevail on them to remain calm and peaceful.” 

Bishop Ngbede, speaking at the stakeholders meeting. 

We don't want crises. When 

there's crises, traditional rulers 

that stay with the people suffer 

m o s t . T h e r e f o r e w e w a n t 

everything that will be done for 

the sake of peace to be done. We 

“don't want crises. 

” 


FRIDAY OCT 30th 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 


Steve Akange Connects 

Communities with Road Network 

By Bemgba Iortyom 

Engr Steven Akange giving back to his community through rural roads infrastructure. 

couple of days back, I was in the office 

Aof Engr. Steve Akange for a discussion 

and I overhead him on the phone talking 

to someone who i dont know. But it had to do 

with what he was planning to do back home in 

our local government area, Ushongo, Benue 

State. 

When I enquired, he shrugged it off, 

insisting it wasn't anything serious. That he was 

only trying to do something small about a portion 

on one of the rural feeder roads in the area to ease 

movement on it. 

He made such light of it that my mind 

went off it completely, until yesterday when I 

saw on the cyber space the enormity of work 

being done on some rural roads in Ushongo 

courtesy of Engr. Akange. 

I got curious and called back home. It 

was revealed that some whole stretches of rural 

feeder roads linking communities across a 

number of council wards in Ushongo are being 

upgraded by men and equipment from Hajaig 

Construction Company. 

Pix courtesy: Bemgba Iortyom's Facebook Wall 

This is not a government funded 

exercise but an endeavour from a private 

citizen to reach out to society in a gesture of 

goodwill which in monetary value runs into 

millions of naira. 

I'm in awed at this gesture, 

considering its rarity in our climes where the 

privileged hardly see a need to give 

something back to the communities where 

they come from, no matter the level of 

poverty and deprivation existent there. 

In that same Ushongo, we have 

persons who have held some of the most 

powerful positions in this country without as 

much as a borehole to their names back in 

their local communities. 

But I recollect that while 

campaigning for the Chairmanship of 

Ushongo during the last council polls in the 

state, wife of Engr. Akange, Mrs. Priscilla 

Nguseer Akange, had promised to leverage 

on her husband's clout in the construction 

industry to upgrade the quality of rural 

f e e d e r 

roads in 

t h e 

area, if 

elected. 

Though not elected to that office, 

this gesture of goodwill from Engr. Steve 

Akange jells strongly with those promises 

made by his wife during her campaign tours 

across the length and breadth of Ushongo. 

If the Steve Akanges, without the 

mandate they sought to lead Ushongo, can 

still make such an impact in the lives of the 

rural people there, those in elected and 

appointve positions of authority have no 

excuse why they can't give back 

developmental dividends to their localities. 

Iortyom writes as a reporter on the 

beat of 'Give back to your Community 

Series' 


Dr Joseph Ngbea 

Mrs Anna Garose Ngbea 

Jemimah Faeren Ngbea 

Keren Iveren Ngbea 

Nazareth Nadoo Ngbea 

King-David Aondokume Ngbea 

16 th 

A nniver s ary


Ortom, Suswam honoured in Konshisha 

Gov Samuel Ortom and his predecessor in office, Sen Gabriel Suswam were honoured at a colourful 

ceremony in Konshisha Sunday, November 1, 2020. Pictures here shows Gov Ortom, Sen Suswam, Speaker 

of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Titus Uba and other dignitaries at the occasion 


Hon Atera Alfred 

Executive Chairman, 

Katsina Ala LGC 

7TH 

NOV 



SOME OF GOV ORTOM'S PROJECTS 

We bring you more of the achievements of Gov Samuel Ortom in various sectors in the last five years and more 



Reconstructed Aper Aku Lodge 



SOME OF GOV ORTOM'S PROJECTS 

We bring you more of the achievements of Gov Samuel Ortom in various sectors in the last five years and more 



PROJECTS IN ZONE A, B & C

WORKMAN 9th - 15th November, 2020

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