Ortom Announces Portfolios For Commissioners and Special Advisers

After a three-day retreat organised at the Benue Peoples' House organised for Commissioners and Special Advisers,  governor Samuel Ortom assigned portfolios to commissioners and special advisers who were earlier sworn in without portfolios.

He made the announcement today evening at the end of a three-day retreat at the Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House.
The portfolios are as follows:
*Michael Gusa – Justice
*David Olofu - Finance
*Odeh Ageh - Information and Orientation
*Emmanuel Manger- Works and Transport
*Nick Wende - Water Resources and Environment
*Mwuese Mnyim – Women Affairs
*Professor Dennis Ityavyar – Education, Science and Technology
*James Anbua – Agriculture
*Sekav Iyortyom- Arts, Culture and Tourism
*Onoja Lawrence- Youths and Sports
*John Otokpa- Housing and Urban Development
*Dr Tersoo Kpelai- Industry, Trade and Investment
*Dr Cecilia Ojabo- Health and Human Services
SPECIAL ADVISERS
*Alhaji Isah Usman – Monitoring and Evaluation
*Bureau for Lands and Survey – Professor Jonathan Uever
*Ethics and Value Orientation – Godwin Idoko
*Special Duties – Arc Joe Kyaagba
*Agro Business – Simon Abua Yajir
*Religious Affair and Civil Society – Rev Joseph Ogezi
*Gender – Joseph Odaudu
*Media and ICT – Tahav Agerzua
*SME’s and Micro Financing – Dr. Austine Idogah
*Employment and Labor Matters Barrister Patricia Kupchi
*Rural Development – Tsenongo Abancha
*Development Cooperation, MDG’s and NEPAD-Dr Mrs Dura
*Research and Strategy – Dr. Adzer Abya
*Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs-Titus Zam
*Legislative and Inter-Governmental Affairs
*Security – Col Edwin Jando rtd
*Economic Investment – Dr Bem Melladu
*Political Affairs – Sarwuan Tarnongo

MURDER OF ATOZA IHINDAN: FAMILY POINTS FINGER AT GOVERNOR ORTOM’S CSO, PETITION POLICE IG

The family of murdered PDP chieftain and elder statesman, Chief Atoza Ihindan, MFR, have disclosed their suspicion of the Chief Security Officer to the Benue State Governor, Dickson Orlu Pawa, and one other as masterminds of the murder and have written to the Inspector General of Police.

The family made this known through Mr Terfa Atoza, a former Commissioner under former governor Gabriel Suswam, in a press statement today in Abuja.

Mr Atoza’s press statement is as follows:

Gentlemen of the Press

It is with a heavy heart that I address you today on the gruesome murder of my father, Late Rt. Hon. Atoza Ihindan (MFR), who was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and caucus chairman of the party in Benue Northeast senatorial district.

As widely reported by most of you, my father had gone out to inspect the perimeter fence of a property within Katsina-Ala town last Friday in company of a police escort and aide before two hired killers who rode on a motorcycle, came and shot him at close range. He died on the spot.

I condemn the dastardly act and call on all well meaning citizens of this country to join me in doing so, particularly that my father did not do anything to warrant being assassinated.

While the police are doing their best to unearth the identity of the killers, I am constrained to state that I strongly suspect Superintendent of Police, Dickson Orlu Pawa, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Samuel Ortom who was the Aide De Camp to former Governor Gabriel Suswam for seven years five months and Mr. Moses Anaana, (alias Anaana J.) as the masterminds of my father’s assassination.

I have already filed a petition to the Inspector General of Police stating my reasons why I suspect these men.
I am particularly distressed about the political assassinations in Nigeria. The killing of people because of political differences is reprehensible and does not help our efforts to build democracy in this country. Human life is sacred and those that deprive other humans of their life should be held to account for their crimes. I call on you to assist me to bring the killers of my father to book and to be vigilant so that together we can put away this sad horrendous activity from our national life.

Meanwhile the Police have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the murder.

State Police Public Relations’ Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani in a statement to The Guardian yesterday said one of those apprehended is suspected of being the one who fired the shot that killed Chief Atoza, a woman and her baby in Katsina-Ala local government area of the State.

Ezeani said that the suspect was arrested with bullet wounds on his leg, adding that an AK47 gun loaded with 128 rounds of live ammunition was also found on him.

“Those arrested are assisting the police with useful information in unraveling the perpetrators of these dastardly acts for prosecution. We are also mopping up arms from those who are not embracing the amnesty program of the State governor,” Ezeani explained.

Exposed! How Suswam robbed Benue of N500million revenue

More facts have emerged how former Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam aided the defrauding of the state in Internally Generated Revenue, IGR running close to half a billion naira.

It is not clear how much of this may have been carried out against the state in other sectors through this official conspiracy.

Investigations reveal that from 2007 to 2015,  Suswam as the governor of Benue state, deliberately aided other officials in his government in bleeding the state of revenue through official negligence and deliberate policy more than anyone else in the past.

Incidentally, the former governor's tenure ended on a sour note as his administration could hardly meet financial obligations to civil servants where salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity were owed upto 12 billion naira.

Available records indicate that the former governor recklessly approved waivers on land charges to his wife, Arc Yemisi Suswam, family, friends and political associates at the detriment of the poor financial status of the state amounting to over N500 million.

Not withstanding the dwindling revenue that accrued to the state, Governor Suswam indulged in flagrant abuse of his offace by indiscriminately approving waiver applications.

In one of such waiver letters with Ref No: Q/26/XIII/5 dated 26th May, 2015 and signed by Eugene Ivase,  former Permanent Secretary,  Governmnet House administration to the former Commissioner of Lands and Survey, the former governor approved the waiver of land charges in favour of Sev-Av Foundation,  a supposedly non profit organisation floated by his wife to the tune of over N30.9 million.

The letter, entitled: Re: Application for Waiver of Land Charges reads: "His Excellency,  the executive governor of Benue state,  Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam,  PhD, CON has approved waiver of land charges amounting to N30,932,800.00 (Thirty Million, Nine hundred and thirty two thousand, eight hundred naira) only in favour of Sev-Av Foundation."

Ivase concluded in the one page letter which was copied to the coordinator of the Sev-Av Foundation, "find His Excellency's approval on the attached copy of the letter dated 11th May,2015, please."

It was learnt from officials of the Ministry of Lands and Survey that many of such waiver letters were sent to the land registry thereby robbing the state off in revenue that would have impacted positively on the development of the state.

Sources in the ministry of finance, agriculture and works gave hints of similar flagrant abuses encouraged by the past administration thereby siphoning monies that would have come into the state coffers as revenue to personal pockets of family, friends and political hangers on who were patronised just to keep the state perpetually broke and at the whims of the former governor and his allies.

Court Sacks Benue PDP lawmaker

The Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, has sacked a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Oju 2 State Constituency, Mr. Mathew Ire, of the Peoples Democratic Party over illegal substitution of name.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, on Wednesday ordered that Ire, who contested the PDP House of Assembly primaries on November 29, 2014 alongside the plaintiff, Agi Adigwu and Jairus Erube, the then incumbent Assembly member.

At the December party primaries, Ire, who was declared winner, scored 10 votes while Adigwu polled 11 votes and Erube got five votes.

The party however handed the party flag to Ire and subsequently declared the PDP’s candidate.

He won the election and the Independently National Electoral Commission issued him a Certificate of Return.

Adigwu had approached the Federal High Court to seek redress, praying the court to reverse the decision of the party concerning the outcome of the primary.

Justice Nyako ruled that it was illegal for the PDP to substite the name of the winner of the primaries and fielding Ire, who did not score the highest number of votes.

Nyako ordered that the PDP Assembly member, who had been inaugurated, be removed from the seat immediately.

She also directed INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ire and issue the certificate to Adigwu, who should be sworn in.

Suswam's DG Arrested for Culpable Homicide

The  Director-General for the failed senatorial bid of former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, Mr. Terfa Atii has been arrested by the police in the state for culpable homicide.

Hon.  Terfa Atii

Mr. Atii, who represented Ushongo/Kwande federal constituency between 2003 and 2007 in the House of Representative is now cooling his heels behind bars at police AIG zone 4 for allegedly been responsible for the murder of a 14-year old girl, Terkumbur Aguji.

According to investigations, the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain had invaded a polling unit in Ushongo local government area with armed thugs during the April 11 senatorial election with the intent to snatch INEC ballot papers to enable him thumbprint in favour of his party.

It was gathered that when the plan was foiled by the voters, the thugs started shooting sporadically during which a stray bullet hit the innocent girl who was rushed to the Wantor Hospital in the local government where she later died.

One of the thugs who accompanied the former lawmaker on the mission, and who allegedly identify the victim as coming from Atii's rivals in the land tussle, is also said to be the one who fired the shot when a stray bullet hit the girl.

The killing of the girl it was learnt, triggered off violent protests as youths on a revenge mission, burn down a house belonging to the PDP chieftain.
According to a police Exhibit marked 'A' which contains the police report, the case was reported to the police on April 11 at the police headquarters in Makurdi.

When contacted, the state command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani denied knowledge of the petition, but a police officer at the AIG headquarters where Mr. Atii is currently cooling his heels who spoke to our correspondent but preferred to be anonymous said the former lawmaker was in detention on the orders of his boss.

A lawyer handling the case, Barrister James Shior of Joe Abaagu Chambers also confirmed the incidence said the thugs came in a vehicle with Mr. Atii to snatch the electoral materials, adding that the matter has been reported to the police.

You Are Still Our Members, Benue PDP to Ortom and Nick Eworo

Dr. Samuel Ortom

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), has declared that the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom and Hon. Nick Eworo who was the centre of the recent brawl at the Benue State House of Assembly remain members of the party.

This was made known by the State Chairman of the party, Chief Emmanuel Agbo,  during a press briefing in Makurdi today.

According to Agbo the Benue State governor who was voted on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ),  remains a bona fide member of the party because he had not satisfied all conditions necessary for a member of his calibre to leave the party.

Speaking further the party chairman declared that the PPDP remains the majority party in the house as according to him,  Nick Eworo was not expelled from the party as he claims. He said the ward executive which were claimed to have expelled Nick lacks the the powers to expell a members of Nick's standing.

He however advised that if Nick Eworo wanted to, leave the party he was free to but will be required to follow laid down guidelines which involve relinquishing the party’s mandate to face a fresh election, perchance he still desired to remain in the Assembly. 

Meanwhile, the party has also chided the APC describing the recent election of Hon. Gabriel Adanyi as a show of desperation.  Chief Agbo said the manner in which the APC is eager to take over the Assembly leadership is proof of the fact that they only stole the mandate they now claim to have.
Culled from atiterkula.wordpress.com

Is Borrowing From The Bank To Pay Benue Workers The Solution?

On Thursday the Benue house of assembly gave governor Ortom the go ahead to borrow N10billion from the bank to offset workers' salary arrears. This didn't come as a surprise. In a meeting with activists, students and opinion leaders when Mr Ortom came into office,he said the debt he inherited from his predecessor is N90billion-N50billion for ongoing contracts, N18billion for certified ones, N10billion for bonds

and bank loans and N12billion for salaries and arrears. He went ahead to say that for him to at least pay one month salary across board and “ensure the take-off of the executive and legislative arms” he needs to borrow and that he has received offers from some banks. when it was all over the news that the Benue state house of assembly has approved the request of the executive to borrow, many people especially on social media wondered aloud if borrowing to offset debt is the way to go.

Borrowing from the bank to pay Benue workers is a very popular decision. Benue workers want to get paid. They deserve to be paid. They have incurred so much debt as a result of non-payment of salaries for close to six(6) months. I heard schools don't even send children home for not paying school fees because they understand it won't make any difference. Doing anything humanly possible to pay at least a month's salary will receive the support of almost everybody, but not everything that is popular is the right thing.

I don't understand the wisdom behind incurring debt to discharge debt. If the people's governor inherited N90billion debt and is still going ahead to borrow N10billion to offset some of it and get government going,is he not increasing the debt? Come to think of it,which generation will finally carry the burden of paying back? The usual question is where will Governor Ortom get the money to pay workers if he doesn't borrow and some have supported the idea by lecturing whoever cares to listen about “refinancing”.

I understand that borrowing is not a bad idea but borrowing to pay salaries is a bad idea. Government all over the world borrow money for different reasons but under normal circumstances it is more wise for government to borrow money to increase production capacity and economic growth. I know the circumstances in Benue are not normal, they are more abnormal given that even in our days of plenty we were borrowing and we are still borrowing in these difficult times. Let's think about this,if borrowing from banks to pay salaries was the solution, why are other governors not doing so to pay salaries?

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun who is owing workers for up to eight(8) months said he began finding it difficult to pay salaries in 2013 when the Federal allocation of Osun state reduced by 40%. He also noted that in his effort to pay workers and carry out his responsibilities, he has exhausted the state's reserve and also incurred debt of N12billion. He also said he will not mind collecting bank loans to pay workers but banks are refusing to grant him more loans. If what the governor of the state of Osun said is true, then borrowing N10billion to pay salaries and get government running is good in the short-term but a disaster in the long run.

Note that governor Ortom intends to pay just one(1) month across board and ensure the take-off of government activities. Mind you workers haven't been paid for five(5) months, so how will the remaining arrears be settled? I just hope he won't be going to the bank to borrow another billions. If we can learn anything from the Osun experience, then we must know that time will come when banks will no longer be willing to give loans. Governor Ortom must find another way out.

The Benue state Secretary to the State Government(SSG) also spoke on channels TV about some options the government was looking at exploring to generate revenue to take care of the salary problem like increasing internally generated revenue and cutting cost of governance. They must also do more by investing in areas that will increase production capacity and economic growth. There are countries that are smaller and less endowed than Benue State but are prosperous independent countries, so there is no reason for us to be stranded because of poor federal allocation. I always tell whoever care to listen that Benue state is not an ordinary State but it has remained so because ordinary people have been leading us for a long time.

I understand that the task before the people's governor is not easy. It takes little effort and time to destroy but the opposite is the case when trying to build. So much has been destroyed but it is in difficulties that greatness is revealed. These are unusual times that demand thinking outside the box. If we must borrow money, let's borrow not just to take care of the needs of Benue workers who are just about 20,000 people; let's borrow to harness our potentials to benefit the over 4million people in Benue state. That is the only way we can one day pay these accumulated debts. I understand that governor Ortom has an economic team and my opinion may be considered as the opinion of an ignorant small boy that didn't even study economics or accounting but I decided to lend my voice as an ordinary citizen who is always at the receiving end of every government decision and also as someone who believe in the power of learning from the experiences of others. Before governor Ortom borrow billions to pay Benue workers, he should give a thought on the experience of the state of Osun.

Bemdoo Hulugh is an active citizen and he writes from Makurdi
You can also interact with him on tweeter @bumy04