One could easily mistake him for the “Egberi Papa 1″ of Bayelsa himself but this Timaya lookalike is a young sensation that is making waves and hopefully, has come to stay in the music industry.

Wearing the same hair do, sharing similar taste of fashion, same complexion and an eerie similarity in voice and musical genre, this guy sure knows how to cut it close!

He is Mustapha Abdulahi from Ohimini local government area of Benue State. With the stage name Cigity, he has performed along side Tuface, Terry G and other big names in the Nigerian entertainment scene.

The 2008 Star Road quest winner also performed at the 2014 Nigerian Youth summit and Mark d’ball 2014, leaving the audience in awe.

Cigity who is signed to Star Trace Movement is a master of many languages. He speaks Idoma, Igala, Hausa and English language fluently.

This crooner is definitely one Act we should all watch out for this year.

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/07/photo-cigity-timayas-lookalike-making.html

Large turn-out of wheelbarrow pushers in Gboko, Benue State today convey the remains of their dead member in a manual truck popularly known as Amaleke. 

They out rightly protested the decision of the family members to convey the corpse in an ambulance, saying that their constitution made the provision to do so and must be adhered to.

Photo Credit: http://oyiidoma..com/2015/06/photo-wheelbarrow-pusher-laid-to-rest.html

Former Benue Governor, Gabriel
Suswam yesterday sent a
congratulatory message to the
newly inaugurated successor, Dr
Samuel Ortom through his official
facebook page at about 6:20 PM
supposedly from his base in the
United Kingdom.



The former governor had by 8:00
AM Friday morning boarded a
London-bound flight to embark
on what he described as “a
leave” after 16 years of active
politics and service.


The full message read as follows:
I am thankful to God and the
people of Benue State for the
opportunity to serve first as
Member Federal House of
Representatives from 1999-2007
and as Governor from 2007 –
2015.
I consider this a rare privilege
and today, I congratulate the
people and the newly
inaugurated Federal and State
Governments all over the country.

I have decided to take a leave
after these 16 years of public
service to decide on where to
make my next move after due
consultations, meditation and
devotion with family, friends and
my creator.

I urge you to support the new
government the best you can for
the greater benefit of Benue
State. 

GTS

Source

OUR COLLECTIVE VISION FOR A NEW BENUE

Today is a milestone in the history of our state. We thank the Almighty God for His grace and for being on our side. My Deputy, Engineer Benson Abounu and I, deeply appreciate our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, that provided us the platform to join the wind of change that is blowing across Nigeria. We salute the good people of Benue who massively voted us into office. We are humbled by your sacrifices and are mindful of the great task ahead. We pay tribute to past and present leaders of the state for the many achievements of the past 39 years. The most recent of these is Rt. Honourable, Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, my predecessor, his Deputy, Chief Steven Lawani and members of the team that ran the state in the past eight years. We are hopeful that you will allow us to tap into your fountain of knowledge and experience as we face the challenges of governance in the state. Whatever you did right will be sustained; and whatever is lacking in what you did shall be boldly corrected.

Though we appreciate the achievements of the past 39 years, we acknowledge the fact that our state is far from reaching its potentials. Our collective vision for the state is yet to be fulfilled. The many challenges on our path notwithstanding, we must not stop in our determined march forward nor allow ourselves to be distracted from our vision of a healthy, united and prosperous Benue where capacity, potential, resourcefulness and integrity will converge to enable the state break into the league of top states in the country. Our administration will build private sector capacity and encourage it to thrive by creating the enabling environment. We shall encourage micro, small, and medium scale enterprises, trading as well as commercial and investment activities
Today, we step forward to accept the enormous responsibility and the trust reposed in us by your votes. We are fully aware of the many hurdles on our path. We step forward with an unwavering commitment to the Benue vision for which we invite you and others who stand as our friends, wherever they maybe, as stakeholders to the vision. Together, we shall be true to ourselves. We shall live the vision in words, deeds and determination. We shall hold and support one another for as long as it takes to realize the vision. No longer will a tiny colony of self-seekers deny us the urgency of this vision today nor in the next four years.

As midwives to the vision of a new Benue, the major policy thrust of my administration rests on five major pillars:

Good governance and revenue security;
Agricultural-Driven Industrialization;
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)-Based Education and Health Services;
Investment in critical infrastructure; and
Promoting gender equality and empowering women, youth, sports, and persons with disabilities.

The details of our development agenda will be made public in due course as part of our commitment to a collective ownership of the vision for a new Benue.

The expected outcome of our policy thrust as outlined above, will be an inclusive, accountable and result oriented government. In partnership with local communities we will ensure the security of lives and property in the state. We will do everything possible to contain attacks on our people by criminal gangs and herdsmen. We will through appropriate legislation, encourage those with livestock in the state to keep them on ranches as a way of forestalling incessant clashes with farmers. We will also move decisively against those of our youths and their patrons who have chosen a living out of unbridled acts of terror and thuggery. Government will no longer be a shield for these youths and those who patronize them. Whoever they may be and no matter how powerful, they will be brought to account. We call on all unlawfully armed persons who have been terrorizing innocent citizens to immediately surrender their arms, be free and get integrated into our reform program, or we shall pursue them down to their holes.
In agriculture, our expected outcome is to extend our calling as ‘Food Basket of the Nation”, to include processing of agro-products. We will do this by developing the sector through the introduction of simple technology driven systems and targeted interventions involving agro-processing, improved marketing channels, inputs and rural infrastructure. Education will be promoted as the backbone of the Benue vision focusing on quality, access and relevance at all levels. We will deliberately promote mathematics education in order to produce a generation of students whose numeracy skills will in the near future will translate to excellence in science and engineering. We will nurture and attract exceptional talents to ensure that our State University and other tertiary institutions are hubs of excellence not only primed to sustain our development but repositioned major players in the production of knowledge for the state and the nation. In accordance with our APC manifesto, modalities will be put in place to provide free, qualitative and compulsory education up to secondary school level as soon as the economic fortunes of the state improve.

Our vision will not be realized by chance, we will remain focused and not be distracted. We will advance in boldness and hit the ground running. Distinguished citizens of our great state, it is common knowledge that our state has a huge debt burden which we shall verify and disclose as soon as possible. This includes unpaid salaries and allowances as well as retirement benefits. With your understanding, patience and support, we will turn this situation around. We will be prudent, we will be efficient and we will be transparent and creative in the management of resources in our development agenda.

Thus the clarion call to our farmers and people in the rural areas is that we must attain the number one food producing state of the nation. Together, we can transform the rural landscape, create more jobs, wealth, and opportunities as well as improve rural habitats and livelihoods. To our women and vulnerable groups, we will together, strive to reduce gender inequality and other vulnerabilities that encourage poverty and limit potentials. To the youths of the state, you will no longer be dispensable tools in the hands of irresponsible politicians . We will commit to giving each of you the highest quality training in mathematics, sciences, technology and innovation as well as creative arts to position you for tomorrow as key drivers of the Benue vision. Sports will be utilized as a veritable tool for youth empowerment as talents will be trapped and given an enabling environment to develop up to the global stage.

Fellow citizens of Benue State, my heart bleeds for Benue workers and pensioners as they have suffered untold hardship as the issues of their salaries, wages and allowances have become a major challenge. We shall immediately make arrangements to determine and verify our indebtedness and work towards the immediate payment of outstanding workers’ salaries and allowances of pensioners. The Bible states that the worker deserves his wages, on that score government must ensure that wages are paid as at when due.
To teachers at all levels in the state, you are the key to unlocking the major challenges in education. We will not only support you but rebuild the school system and enable you to take our schools to the next level. To Benue citizens in diaspora, we will engage and challenge you continuously to buy into and own the Benue vision. The state must benefit from your wealth of experiences, suite of competencies and skills. We will partner and provide a place for you in the rebirth of the state. To our entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and other non-state actors, investors and other multilateral development partners, we open our arms to a warm embrace of opportunities that will be mutually rewarding and beneficial to all.


 
My dear compatriots, as your governor, I pledge to govern with the fear of God. This shall translate to core values including transparency, accountability, fairness, justice, humility, selflessness, disciple, integrity, integration, forgiveness and reconciliation which shall engender peace and unity as well as make development inevitable. We shall have zero tolerance for corruption and any government official who misappropriates public funds will be punished. Our philosophy is that which regards public office as an opportunity to serve and not that for amassing illegal wealth. Those who wish to make money shall be encouraged to get into the private sector and do business.
Our administration will promote growth and development of our state in accordance with the democratic principles of due consultation, full disclosure, transparency, inclusive participation, responsive leadership and the rule of law. Unfruitful expenditures will be discouraged, and never, never again will individuals be allowed to corner the commonwealth of the state to become their personal estate because they are privileged to be in political governance. I assure you that we will use every legal means to recover such treasures annexed from the state. On our part, we promise to wholeheartedly sweat and to toil in your service to the meaningful satisfaction of all such that by the time we leave office, Benue people will be on their knees thanking God and celebrating enhancement in their lives and environments.
We will constitute a participatory government where citizens will have their say and way. We will work to allay the fear of marginalisation of the minority ethnic groups in the state be you Akweya, Etulo, Nyifon, Ufia, Agatu, Jukun, or Hausa, you wll enjoy the rights and privileges of the other better known Tiv, Idoma and Igede. The Igbo, Yoruba, Edo, Nupe, Ebira, Ijaw and all other groups who are resident in the state will be treated as stakeholders. By the grace of God, Benue will become greater and we will all share in her greatness.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have gone past the time for politicking. I am the governor of those who voted for me. I am the governor of those who did not vote for me. I am the governor of those who did not vote. I am governor of all. For this reason, we extend our hand of partnership to all and especially political leaders across the divides.

Let me specially convey our very sincere appreciation to the Chief Judge of Benue State, the Honourable Justice Iorhemen Hwande for performing this constitutional and sacred duty that has conferred on Engineer Benson Abounu and my humble self, the authority of Deputy Governor and Governor respectively. My Lord, we thank you and appreciate the commendable manner you have led the Benue judiciary to the sterling and enviable status it has attained in this country. We also acknowledge the contributions of the Speaker and all members of the Benue State House of Assembly for their contributions to the development of the state.

It is pertinent to commend the national leaders of the APC, especially Senator Dr. George Akume and his dear wife, Chief Mrs. Regina Akume, JP, for their vision and passion for Benue. The contributions of Chief Audu Ogbeh, another illustrious son of the state to the change movement must also be acknowledged and appreciated just like the efforts of the APC state chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, and all members of the state executive committee of the party. We will not forget the contributions of Chief Akange Audu, Professor Steve Ugbah, and Chief Mike Iordye, whose noble contributions to the development of the party have brought us this hour of glory. We also acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions of Distinguished Senator Chief Barnabas Gemade to our victory. I commend all those who have won various elections to serve the people of Benue in different capacities. This group contributed immensely to the collective victory of the party. My appreciation will be incomplete if I fail to commend the members of the Ortom/Abounu Campaign Organization led by Professor Ugbah and Strategy Committee led by Professor Dennis Ityavyar, for their diligence and hard work.

For an opposition party to wrestle power from a ruling party is not a picnic in a garden. It has been a long marathon in the desert. We thank you for your resilience. Many who started this journey with us are not here today to witness this glorious moment. Many lost their lives in the course of this journey. Even on Election Day, some were killed and several injured because they resisted the attempts to subvert the will of the people. Once again we sympathize with families who lost loved ones and pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased. Persuasive canvassing of votes remains the most civilized means of soliciting for political power from the electorate. In their memory therefore, let us resolve that, never again will any politician find any attraction in violence and other electoral malpractices as a legitimate means of acquiring democratic power in Benue State.

We have resolved to strive to reform our politics such that power and privilege would no longer shut down the voice of the people. If we must run a government in which everybody is involved; a peoples government, we must put aside personal advantage so that we can feel the pains and see the promise of Benue. It in this regard that I wish to drop all my titles preferring to be addressed as Samuel Ortom. We must give the seat of government back to the people to whom it belongs. To eliminate that distance between the government and the people, the seat of Government in Benue State will no longer be called Government House but Benue Peoples House. This we believe will serve as a constant reminder that we hold our positions of authority in trust for the people and that the people are more important than anything else in a democracy.

Honestly, I always wonder where I would have been without my charming wife, on whose loving shoulders I always received inspiration at very challenging times. From the bottom of my heart I say thank you my baby, Eunice. All members of my family have borne the trauma occasioned by my political participation. I commend my children and grand children all other members of my immediate and extended family for their patience and understanding. I have very reliable friends, who have sacrificed everything to support my ambition. I sincerely appreciate and thank them all.
Before I end this address, let me salute the glorious memory of our heroes and founders of modern Benue; Chief Dr. J.S Tarka, Chief J.C Obande, Chief Apollos Aper Aku and Most Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu. They were great men of vision, and we shall endeavour to build on the foundation they laid for our dear state.

An African proverb counsels that; “if you want to go fast, you go alone but if you want to go far, you go with someone”. I want to go far with all the people of Benue. I am trusting God Almighty that my journey with you to our New Benue will be a fruitful one.

Finally, as we depart from this arena, I wish you all journey mercies to your respective homes. The central message that you should carry back and share with the good people of Benue State is this: You voted for CHANGE and change has come. The change we advocate is not a mere party slogan but the wake-up call for a people’s revolution. It is the herald of a new way of doing things. This change is not about Ortom or Abounu but requires that the hand of every citizen be on deck to create the Benue of our dreams. We cannot and will not fail because, in God we trust.
Thank you and God bless you.

Source

Photo Credit: http://oyiidoma..com/2015/05/photo-samuel-ortom-sworn-in-as-governor.html

Suspected gunmen, Wednesday evening, abducted the mother of the House of Representatives-elect for Buruku Federal Constituency in Benue State, Orker Jev.


The incident occurred at Mbaya, Tombo, Buruku Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, simply identified as Mama Mwuese, was whisked away by men of the underworld from her family house in Tombo.


According to an eyewitness, the gunmen stormed the compound in a red Toyota car through Tse-Kucha in Gboko LGA, and kidnapped the aged woman after overpowering some members of a vigilance group in the area.

The gunmen also escaped with the victim after a gun duel with some policemen at a checkpoint in the area.

Confirming the incident, Jev, told newsmen that efforts were currently on to bring back her mother.

He, however, said the gunmen were yet to contact with the family.


The Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, Austin Ezeani, who also confirmed the incident, said efforts were being put in place for her rescue.

Source

The resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Adamu Mu’azu, has been described as a good development for the party.



Giving their opinions about the decision of the PDP Chairman to resign, the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and the Derector, Media And Publicity, Goodluck-Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, said the decision was a welcomed idea.

In a telephone interview, Mr Fayose told Channels Television that the resignation of Mr Mu’azu was a good development for democracy and for the Peoples Democratic Party, as an opposition party.

‘The Path Of Honour’

After the ruling party lost the March 28 Presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Fayose called for the resignation of the party’s chairman, insisting that he had failed to lead the party to victory.

“I want to say that he has done well by accepting to ‘toe the path of honour’.

“Our call for his resignation was in line with proper practice all over the world.

“When a leader leads his own people to an election in a manner that the PDP was led, then it is honourable for him to depart peacefully and he has done it, though late, but still welcoming,” the Governor of Ekiti State said.

Mr Fayose said the former chairman of the PDP “is still a member of the PDP and still seen as a leader”.

“The PDP is not in a stable state because we fell and for anyone to fall, you need time to get your ass together.

“Overtime, things will fall in place.

“Adamu Muazu’s departure is normal. It is not out of place, the party will get over this period and we will pick the pieces and move on,” the Ekiti State Governor Stressed.

For Mr Fani-Kayode, the National Chairman of the PDP made a historic decision.

He said Mr Mu’azu’s resignation had presented the party an opportunity to re-organise itself and provide the needed opposition to the APC.

“I commend him for his courage and for the fact that he resigned when it was clear that the majority of the party members no longer wanted him there.

“Whatever reasons he gave, at the end of the day, it really does not matter. The fact is that he has gone and I commend him for that.

“He is being sensitive and listening to the voice of those that were under him within the party,” Mr Fani-Kayode stated.

He further expressed optimism that the decision would enhance unity and give hope to those seeking change at the leadership of the party.

Source

A Benue indigene resident in Abuja was excited at the emergence of Chief Dr Ortom as the Governor of Benue State so much that he rode his bicycle all the way to come and congratulate him in Makurdi.


"I'm so excited and overwhelmed at his victory that I decided to ride my sporting bicycle all the way from Abuja to come and personally congratulate him in Makurdi," Mr Agaku Tse told newsmen.

The 32 year old indigene of Kwande local government area stated that he knew Chief Dr Ortom while he worked on his Oracle Farm as a contractor.

"I came with joy in my heart and I'm so happy he personally received me," he stated.

"I pray that the good Lord would grant all his desire to move Benue to the highest level and that God would also grant him long life and prosperity."

According to the bicycle man he took off from Abuja on 11th May at 8 am and arrived Makurdi on 14th May 2015 at 9 am.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment expressed surprise at the gesture but said he felt honored.

He commended Mr Agaku for using his youthful stamina in a positive way and urged other youths to emulate him.

Chief Dr Ortom promised to integrate him into his youth empowerment scheme which shall take off after his inauguration.

Photo Credit: http://oyiidoma..com/2015/05/photos-benue-man-rides-bicycle-from.html

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has admitted a mix-up in reporting dates for the 2015 Batch 'A' corps members deployed to Benue State for orientation course.


NYSC spokesperson, Mrs. Abosede Aderigbibe, said in a statement yesterday that the orientation course in the Benue camp, like in some other states, had been planned to take place in two streams with Stream I slated for May 5 to 25, 2015 and Stream II to hold from June 2 to 22.

According to Aderigbibe, corps members deployed for the Stream II exercise in the state also reported at the camp between May 5 and 6 as against their scheduled date of June 2 due to an error in their call-up letters.

She said the affected prospective corps members originally scheduled to participate in the Stream II of the on-going orientation course in Benue had been paid their transport allowance to and from the orientation camp in line with their entitlements to enable them travel back home and return to camp on June 2.

"All the affected corps members deployed to Benue State are hereby assured that the above arrangement will not alter their passing-out date as they will, as usual, pass out with their counterparts of Stream I at the end of their service year," the statement said.

Benue News Updates

Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party may be heading for a final destruction if the infighting among its leaders was not immediately resolved.

Mark, who stated this while receiving the Senator  Ike Ekweremadu’s PDP Post – election assessment committee, in his office said the continued acrimony between factions in the party, was dangerous.

He said, “The PDP is already hemorrhaging, unless we halt the bleeding and finds the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party.

“The party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancour and bulk passing.

“The emerging factions are absolutely unnecessary.  The combatants must sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue.

“My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house.

“Everybody should come together and rebuild the party.  We have gotten enough bruises.  We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering. Enough of this blame-game.”

Mark urged members of the party to return to the drawing board instead of washing their dirty linen in the public.

He said, “I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune.  As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course.”



He expressed confidence that Ekweremadu and his team will do a good job and address the remote and immediate causes of our misfortune and make recommendations that will enhance the future of the party.

“I have worked closely with the Deputy President of the Senate over the years and I know his capability and capacity to handle issues,” he added.

Mark called on all stakeholders to rise above the present circumstances and work hard to rejuvenate the party.

He said the new status of the party as an opposition is a challenge which must be faced with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty.

He said democracy and the nation would be much better if the party  plays credible opposition to ensure good governance and deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

View Source

The Benue State House of Assembly complex was on Thursday shut down over intensive plot by the lawmakers to impeach the speaker, Terhile Ayua and Governor Gabriel Suswam.

The lawmakers, including members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had held an emergency session on Wednesday to collect signatures so as to impeach the speaker.

The action of the assembly members is hinged on the speakers’ alleged inability to defend their welfare before the executive arm of government hence their salaries were owed and that the speaker also connived with the governor, without the consent of members to approve and assent the bills for revenue administration and chieftaincy appointment.

Yesterday, the assembly complex was under lock and key, just as lawmakers and other legislative staff totally deserted the place. It was gathered that some lawmakers and legislative workers who came to work without knowing went disappointed.

Sources in the assembly said the speaker, Ayua had directed the clerk and security operatives in the assembly to shut the complex. The mace was also reportedly carted away.

It was gathered that some aggrieved PDP lawmakers who lost re-election and members of the APC who were sidelined in the governor’s largesse to influence the lawmakers to approve the chieftaincy bill, called for the impeachment of the speaker.

Benue News Updates

The Benue State Governor-elect, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom, has embarked on a seven day visit to the Peoples Republic of China at the invitation and sponsorship of two firms from that country.

Hongye International Limited and CGC invited Chief Dr Ortom to tour their facilities in China.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, is accompanied on the visit by a delegation from the state which includes All Progressives Congress, APC, Board of Trustees member, Chief Audu Ogbeh.


The purpose of the visit is to commence discussion with Chinese businessmen and women towards establishing partnerships for the development of Benue state.


While on the trip the Governor-elect will visit four provinces and Beijing where he will pay a courtesy call on Nigeria's ambassador to that country.

Chief Dr Ortom’s schedule during the seven day trip includes visits to agro and coal power plants as well as water treatment, airport, road construction, dredging, and irrigation facilities in the four regions.


The Governor-elect and his delegation has also been scheduled to meet with Chinese business men and women.

He is expected to leave Nigeria tonight and return on May 6th 2015.

Signed :

Tahav Agerzua,
Media Adviser to
Benue State Governor-elect.

‪#‎ChangeIsHere‬ ‪‬

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/newbenue-ortom-in-china-to-meet.html

The new Africa Against Ebola and Xenophobia rendition of “We Are The World” features 180 musicians from seven African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe).

Well known African musicians have come together to sing for peace and tolerance in Africa.

The song debuted at the 2014 MTN Radio Awards on 18 April. Organisers of the awards have called on radio stations to broadcast the song as an act of solidarity against xenophobia in South Africa.

The organizers said, “It features 180 artists from across the African continent and is a demonstration of the beautiful music that Africans can make when we work together.”

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After Suleiman Hashim, a man, who trekked from Lagos to arrive Abuja on Monday, in honor of victory of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammadu Buhari,  another man also planned to trek from Abuja to Makurdi, in honour of the victory of the party’s governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom.



Mr. Desmond Shija, 34, who claimed to be an Abuja-based business man, stated this when he visited Media Trust headquarters yesterday in Abuja.

He said that he had vowed to trek from Abuja to Wurukum round-about in Makurdi, if the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state wins the election.

Shija said though he was shocked when he leant in the media of a man trekking from Lagos to Abuja in honour of victory of Buhari, after he had planned such.

“Infact, I have planned the trek before the election, until when I saw somebody was doing it,” he said.

He said he was motivated to plan the trekking because of the bad governance of the PDP-led administration in the state alleging that the PDP government has frustrated the people especially civil servants without salaries for one year  in the state.

Shija, from Buruku Local Government Area of Benue state, who claimed to be an electronic dealer, said he has always prayed to God that the opposition party would defeat the ruling PDP in the state, which he said God has answered his prayers.

He said he would commence the trekking from Abuja as from 15 or 16 May and arrive in Makurdi on the handing over day May 29, to show his solidarity with the governor-elect, Chief Samuel Ortom.

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/benue-man-set-to-trek-from-abuja-to.html?m=1

The election of executive members of the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which held yesterday at the Aminu Isa Kontagoral complex in Makurdi was disrupted by unidentified thugs who stormed the venue and shot sporadically into the air shortly after voting commenced.

Following the interruption at the venue, the election was cancelled. But unknown to most of the members of the congress, another poll was ongoing at Apir area of Makurdi, close to the Federal Medical Centre along Otukpo road.


A source, claimed that the thug decided to scare members of the congress away by shooting into the air when it became clear that one of the candidates, Comrade Amya M was leading in the vote.

According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, “The election was interrupted by the thugs when it was clear that Amya would win his opponent believed to have the backing of Governor Suswam.

“As far as we are concerned, this election was rigged because no one knew that another poll was organized at Apir that same day where Governor Suswam’s candidate was declared winner”.


Other members of the Congress were worried by the action of the thugs. They called on the Police to carry out proper investigation on the matter.

Benue News Updates

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, on Thursday said he was fully in support of the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume’s bid to lead the 8th National Assembly when inaugurated in June.

Suswam reasoned that since there was nobody from the state vying for the position, he was supporting Akume, his predecessor as state governor, to emerge victorious.

He stated this at the State House, Makurdi, on Thursday, while donating eight brand new Toyota Prado SUVs to the Governor-Elect, Chief Samuel Ortom; his wife; the Deputy Governor-Elect, Benson Abounu, and his wife, as part of the peaceful transition arrangement.

He said, “My way of playing politics is all encompassing and I am fully in support of Akume to emerge as the Senate President for the 8th Assembly since he is the only person from Benue vying for that position, which we understand has been zoned to the North Central.”

The governor called on the media to continue to encourage peace and issue-based understanding among different political parties in the country.

He urged media practitioners to extend the same support and cooperation the Peoples Democratic Party enjoyed to the All Progressives Congress in the interest of peaceful existence of Nigeria.

He said, “I want you people (the media) to extend the same support and cooperation our government enjoyed to the incoming administration of APC in the interest of the nation"

Photo Credit: http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/suswam-backs-akume-for-senate.html

Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam has submitted his petition to the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, challenging the declaration of his opponent Chief Barnabas Gemade, senator elect of Benue North-East senatorial district as winner.

Barr Andrew Wombo, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counsel and Governor Suswam are challenging the election of Senator Gemade on the grounds that there were irregularities and that he did not meet the amount of votes required by INEC to confirm him as winner in the March 28 polls held in the state.

The petition which was submitted alongside other aggrieved contestants came on the heels of the election petitions tribunal declaration that any contestant who so feels aggrieved with the outcome of the election results has just 21 days to file their petitions to seek redress.

The court has also urged aggrieved parties to adhere strictly to the deadline, insisting that after the expiration of the stipulated time anything arising thereafter will not be entertained.

Observers were taken aback with the contradictions of Governor Suswam’s renewed vigor to embark on fresh litigation against his rival Senator Gemade.

It would be recalled that Suswam while receiving in audience the governor elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at the banquet hall of Government House in Makurdi a forth night ago, publicly alluded that he will never institute legal action against the emergence of Dr. Ortom’s victory at the concluded polls because he knows first-hand how court cases distracts governance.

Similarly, analysts are surprised at the sudden twist of events as the governor is set to embark on legal action to reclaim what he called misplaced mandate thereby contradicting his earlier avowed stance.

Source: Benue News Updates

On April 23 1961, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom, who hails from Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria was born.

The story of this politician is a bag full of courage and determination. With a chequered early educational start, this Nigerian industrialist, farmer, businessman, politician, philanthropist, administrator and employer dared all adversities to conquer life. 

Today, he stands tall among his peers to tell a story worthy of emulation. In a keenly contested governorship tussle, Ortom, buoyed by an inner inspiration from the almighty defied all known political odds to clinch the seat as the governor of Benue state in the April 11th 2015 governorship elections. 
Today April 23rd, Dr Ortom turns 54 just before he is sworn in as the 5th Democratically elected governor of Benue, a state known for her vast agricultural and mineral potentials. Join me to celebrate a man of history. Happy birthday Your Excellency. 

Nathaniel Ikyur
Director of Social Media, 
Ortom / Abounu Campaign Organization

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/benue-governor-elect-is-54.html

Unidentified persons invaded Radio Benue in the early hours of Tuesday carting away money and other valuable items.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the raid affected the offices of the Director General and Director of Marketing where N140,000 was stolen.

A personal DVD player was also removed from the office of Director of Engineering Services.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Justin Amase, expressed shock over the incident and ordered the strengthening of security especially around the transmitters.

He further ordered that a comprehensive report of what happened should be sent to his office immediately and warned that any staff found wanting would be dealt with by the government.

He said the police were expected to carry out thorough investigation and bring the culprits to justice.

Amase said adequate measures must be put in place to ensure a smooth handover of power to the incoming administration.

The Divisional Police Officer, 'B' Division, Makurdi, Mr Dominic Yonuveh, was at the radio station to assess the extent of damage.

Yonuveh said police had commenced investigation into the matter, adding that the two policemen and security man on duty had been taken into detention.

He promised to leave no stone unturned in getting the invaders arrested.

Source: NAN

South Africa said on Tuesday it was deploying the army to hotspots that have been hit by a wave of xenophobic violence to support police who have struggled to contain the attacks.


The dramatic move highlights the sense of crisis in the country after three weeks of attacks by South Africans against African immigrants, which have led to at least seven deaths and forced thousands to flee their homes.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the defence minister, said the soldiers would be deployed to volatile areas of KwaZulu Natal, the province where the worst of the violence has taken place, and Alexandra, an impoverished township outside Johannesburg.


“The army will be deployed because there is a crisis,” she said.
A Zimbabwean couple was reportedly attacked in Alexandra on Monday night, while the South African Sunday Times published graphic pictures of a Mozambican man being stabbed and killed in the township over the weekend. The pictures reinforced the sense of shame the attacks have generated among many South Africans.

The government was criticised for initially being slow to react. But in recent days it has taken firmer action, setting up ministerial task teams, while President Jacob Zuma cancelled a trip to Indonesia because of the violence.

Officials said at the weekend that 307 people had been arrested in connection with the attacks, while seeking to reassure thousands of foreigners who have fled to makeshift camps that they will be protected.


“We cannot continue with what has been going on; we are now reclaiming authority of the state,” Ms Mapisa-Nqakula said. “We cannot have people riding on the backs of innocent South Africans because out there the world believes that all South Africans are the same. The perception created is that we are not protecting foreign nationals.”

The army was also deployed to support police in 2012 during violent strikes by miners around a platinum mine in Marikana after police had shot and killed 34 striking miners.

South Africa is estimated to be home to up to 5m immigrants, many from poorer neighbouring countries who travelled to Africa’s most advanced economy in search of a better life.

Many of those attacked operate informal shops in townships but some South Africans accuse foreigners of depriving locals of jobs and business opportunities.

The violence has highlighted the festering anger felt by poorer South Africans who complain about the slow pace of economic transformation in the 21 years since the first democratic election.


In spite of boasting Africa’s most developed economy, South Africa is one of the world’s most unequal societies, with poverty and unemployment widespread, particularly in the townships.

The situation is being exacerbated by the fragile state of the economy, which is enduring weak growth and is often affected by electricity outages as Eskom, the state utility, grapples with a power crisis.


The violence against foreigners has tarnished South Africa’s image across the continent and sparked concerns about reprisal attacks against South Africans abroad.


Some 340 South Africans working on Sasol projects in Mozambique — most of whom are employees of service providers contracted by the energy group — have been temporarily repatriated as a precaution. Kenmare Resources, a Dublin-based, London-listed miner, said on Monday it had repatriated 62 South Africans working at its titanium mine in Mozambique.

It is the second spate of xenophobic violence this year after at least five people were killed when South Africans attacked and looted hundreds of foreign-run shops in townships in and around Johannesburg in January.

In 2008, more than 60 foreigners died in xenophobic attacks.

Source:
SABC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Area Office in Katsina-Ala, Benue, was gutted by fire in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The office serves as the commission’s collation centre for the Benue North-East Senatorial District.
Louis Ochai, INEC Public Relations Officer in Benue, who confirmed the incident on Sunday in Makurdi, said the commission was yet to ascertain the cause of the incident.

He explained that no sensitive materials were destroyed, as all sensitive materials as well as card readers were removed immediately after the elections.

The April 19 incident brings to three, INEC offices gutted by fire in the senatorial zone in the past three weeks.
(NAN)



http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/inec-office-gutted-by-fire-in-katsina.html

It was all tears and pains on Thursday night in Otukpo, the powerhouse of Idoma kingdom, when fire gutted the main market, leading to lose of goods worth several millions of naira.

DAILY POST reports that the fire, which started in the evening, was said to have destroyed several shops where baby wears were sold. The affected area is called Lagos line inside the main market.

An eyewitness told our reporter in Otukpo that the fire, which started around 7pm, was on for hours as there was nobody to put it out.


The cause of the fire is yet to be known.

Residents of the area, who appear helpless, wondered why a local government as big and old as Otukpo has no fire service station.

This is coming barely 8 months after fire gutted same market, destroying goods worth millions of naira.


Checks by DAILY POST reporter show that the Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, Joseph Anebi hails from the community

Source: dailypost.ng/2015/04/17/late-night-inferno-wrecks-havoc-in-otukpo-main-market/

Photo Credit: http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/fire-wrecks-havoc-at-otukpo-main-market.html

kristen12:
I need a husband material, 30yards is enough for me.

lol

kaywizee:
This is the first time the agrarian Benue State will experience a sweeping change. The much reverend political gladiators like Governor Gabriel Suswam and Senate President David Mark that drive the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, at least for the past 16 years, have dropped like a fallen tree. SOLOMON AYADO dissects the issues that propelled an overwhelming victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC)

In what can best be described as an end of terror and release of the people from bondage, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state has finally been crushed by the leading All Progressives Congress (APC) after the PDP ruled the agrarian state with severe impunity for about 16 years.

Apart from the fact that those bigwigs that formed the APC in the state today are offspring of the PDP and or founding members, and defected because of alleged injustice and obvious misrule that greeted the party, there are several other reasons why the PDP should have collapsed easily, like an high-rise building that is built on a swampy ground.

Although it is obvious that the change in which the APC sailed its victory in both the presidential and governorship elections held in the food basket state, can be adduced to the expression of the people’s liberation, nobody can contest the fact that the people can be sick and tired with a party that has ruled them for decades, without meeting the yearnings of the people.

It all started like a joke because the PDP in the state, headed by Governor Gabriel Suswam has had no premonition that a merger party like the APC would afford to clinch the status of controlling the political drive of the state and the country.

The founding members of the party were hastily defecting to the APC but it had never at any instance occurred to the PDP that the massive decamping may dig a deep pit where the PDP will fall and finally be buried. Governor Suswam and his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani as well as senate president David Mark could not take any obvious measure to enhance reconciliation and pull back the defectors into their political fold.

While the then opposition APC, now the ruling party, was busy making underground efforts to work around a stable affiliation and evolve strategies that would coast it to victory, the PDP however, underrated the show and failed to quickly institute serious defensive measures to resist the intrigues that were being employed to defeat it.

The PDP met a woeful defeat during the presidential election that failed to deliver its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan. The party also lost two senatorial seats to the APC in the state. Even Senate President David Mark that won a return ticket escaped the defeating lash by the whiskers when a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Daniel Onjeh, pulled a near win in the senatorial election.

In the case of the governorship election, there was a crack in the PDP long before the party conducted its primaries and nominated Terhemen Tarzoor, a former speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly who became the flag bearer. The issues were that the most preferred candidates including the former registrar of Council For the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Felix Atume and a retired permanent secretary, Mr. Hingah Biem and Chief Samuel Ortom were denied the ticket due to certain political calculations. This and other several reasons saw to the defeat of the PDP in the state.



Deception and Political Maneuverings

In order to concede defeat after they were not variedly picked as gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, more than 10 aspirants in the race including the former minister and attorney general of the federation, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) and former minster of aviation, Samuel Ortom could not pretend about the way and manner the structures of the party were executed.

The other aggrieved candidates under the auspices of MINDA aspirants headed by Prof. David Ker, at the primary election promised to back Tarzoor who is one of their own, to get the ticket. But many of the aspirants alleged that the PDP and Governor Suswam deceived them to contest the election and squander their hard earned resources without finally actualizing their aims.

All the PDP candidates, about 30 who did not win the ticket felt deceived shortly after the primaries and started working for the APC, with underground arrangements. This is what caused the defection of Samuel Ortom to the APC. Furthermore, the PDP failed to reconcile the aggrieved parties till the elections came, a situation that handsomely resulted to the woeful defeat of the party.



Unpaid Salaries

At the time of the general elections, the Benue state Government had still not paid the salaries of workers for several months. The state judiciary and all tertiary institutions, as well as primary school teachers went on strike to press home their demands. This became the campaign message of the APC, which filtered convincingly to the nooks and crannies of the state.

Few days to the general elections, civil servants in Benue State protested the non- payment of their outstanding salaries, even as they threatened to shut offices if the state government could not clear the salary arrears.

The workers, under the auspices of Benue Aggrieved Workers protested in Makurdi and had also accused the state leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), purportedly led by the chairman, Simon Anchaver that it has compromised standard to press the demands of workers.

The leader of the protesting group, Barrister Uhundu A. Emmanuel stated “workers salaries are our rights and not favours and so to this end we demand that salaries be paid and paid at the agreed 18% minimum wage to all Benue workers irrespective of cadre.”



Diversion of Campaign Funds

This is another serious factor that enhanced the defeat of the PDP in the state. Some members of the Goodluck/Sambo and Tarzoor/Ngbede campaign organizations alleged that money was being entrusted into hands of people that could not deliver. They said the funds were diverted and it became difficult to run the campaign.

Supporters of the ruling PDP in the Benue North West senatorial zone had during a town hall meeting in Makurdi, before the presidential election, unanimously gave a stern condition that would guarantee their total support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of the PDP, saying they would not vote for the ruling party if they were not properly funded.

Speaking on behalf of the Jemgbagh extraction, a former member of House of Representatives, Arc. Terngu Tsegba noted that “the people of the area are seriously angry because they have not been properly reached with both electoral materials and logistics.”

Also, a PDP bigwig, Elder Agber Humbe stated unequivocally that “it seems the PDP and Jonathan will lose if money is not released for campaign because we have not been properly mobilized. Government in power does not go broke, people are angry because we are not being funded and it is appearing as if the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organization wants to fail so they can establish that we supporters have failed PDP. Many people are saying they would vote for the other party for presidential election if they are not funded.”



How Buhari’s Victory, Suswam’s Defeat Weakened PDP

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari defeated the presidential candidate of the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan, in a landslide victory. Buhari polled a total votes of 373, 961 to defeat President Jonathan who scored 303, 737 with a wide margin of 70, 224 in the election which held in an agrarian state that is ruled by the PDP.

Also, Suswam lost the senate seat of the Benue North East Senatorial district to incumbent Senator Barnabas Gemade. Gemade scored the highest votes of 140, 715 to defeat Suswam who polled a total votes of 118, 603 with a wide margin of 22, 112. The election was conducted in 7 LGAs out of which, Gemade won in 5 LGAs.

The senate minority leader, Senator George Akume said that the victory of Buhari is a clear expression of the feelings of the people who are liberated. He said “the victory of General Buhari is the expression of the people’s feelings because the people were aggrieved and they made a choice which was well respected by INEC.”



Ortom Defeats Tarzoor

The governor-elect, Chief Samuel Ortom of the APC polled a total votes of 422, 932 to defeat Terhemen Tarzoor of the opposition PDP who scored 313, 878 with a wide margin of 109, 054.Out of the 23 local government areas where the elections were conducted, the APC won in 14 LGAs while PDP got victory in 9 local government areas, respectively.

Surprisingly, before the results would be finally collated and announced, Suswam had called Ortom by telephone at about 10.56 am on the day of collation of results, because he saw the glaring victory of Ortom. Similarly, Tarzoor also congratulated Ortom over the victory. The Director General of Tarzoor/Ngbede campaign organization, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher stated this in a press statement.



Need For Reconciliation

Political analysts in Benue state have insisted that there must be reconciliation of aggrieved members of the PDP. They are also of the view that both the APC and PDP members must also come together to enhance unity and development for the state.

Beyond expectation, Chief Samuel Ortom, barely six hours after he was declared winner, visited Suswam at the Government House in Makurdi. They all agreed to throw behind their disagreements. If this situation can chart a way forward for the state to enhance peace, unity and progress, only time shall tell.

Source:  leadership.ng/news/425968/how-mark-suswams-errors-cost-pdp-benue-state

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/benue-2015-how-mark-suswams-errors-cost.html

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There are 23 LG in Benue. Result gotten so far from the collation centre indicate APC is coasting to Victory!

#BenueDecides #CollationCentre

Agatu
GOV
APC - 5,956
PDP - 14,936 Won

ADO
Governor,
APC- 6,630.
PDP- 7,196. Won

Ogbadibo LGA: APC Won
APC 7,890; PDP 7,357 Margin 533

Apa LGA: PDP Won
APC 7,132; PDP 7,582 Margin 450

Tarka LGA: APC Won
APC 14,888; PDP 3,571 Margin 
11,317

Otukpo LGA: APC Won
APC 15,715; PDP 13,519 Margin 2,196

Obi LGA: PDP Won
PDP 8440; APC 7786 Margin 654

Gwer LGA: APC Won
APC 23,831; PDP 12,657 Margin 11,174

Vandeikya LGA: APC Won
APC 33,075; PDP 15,228 Margin 17, 847

Gwer West LGA: PDP Won
APC 11,844; PDP 13,033 Margin 1,189

Okpokwu LGA: PDP Won
APC 7,209; PDP 10,849 Margin 3,640

Makurdi LGA: APC Won
APC 33,245; PDP 23,550 Margin 9,695

Katsina Ala LGA: PDP Won
APC 17,227; PDP 25,192 Margin 7,965

Gboko LGA: APC Won
APC 55, 022, PDP 17,232 Margin 37,790

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/benue-2015-live-updates-of.html

PDP notorious thug shot dead yesterday by his followers during a disagreement over money sharing formula. He is popularly known as QUALITY!


https://www.nairaland.com/2250139/benue2015-1-killed-pdp-supporters

Tragedy struck on Saturday in North Bank area of Makurdi local government area of Benue State when youths believed to be ardent supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a serious disagreement.

One person was shot and killed in the process, while others were were seriously injured.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the ugly incident occurred at about noon in North Bank ward 2 when conflict ensued among some PDP youths over money, because of the sharing formula.

The deceased was simply identified as ‘Quality.’

North Bank ward 2 polling unit is the unit of the governorship candidate of the PDP, Terhemen Tarzoor.

Eye witnesses said there was a heated argument among the youths, one of them became very angry, removed a gun and shot the deceased.

The culprit reportedly fled the area immediately after he committed the heinous act.

The deceased was quickly rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) Makurdi where he was confirmed dead.

The police public relations officer, ASP Ezeani Austin Amaechi, when contacted, confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP by telephone.

He, however, said it was a cult clash and not a political violence, and that security operatives had taken over the place to avert crisis.

Amaechi insisted that the incident happened in North Bank ward 1 and not ward 2 as it was speculated.

He further said the mission of the suspected cultists to the polling unit was not known.

Source: leadership.ng/news/424780/1-killed-as-pdp-supporters-disagree-in-benue

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/benue2015-1-killed-as-pdp-supporters.html

View result here >> http://oyiidoma..com/2015/02/benue-2015-online-poll-who-will-you.html

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark today put paid to speculation making the rounds that he was contemplating joining the All Progressive Congress ( APC), just as he affirmed his unshakeable loyalty to the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP).

Senator Mark stated: ” I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP. I will be the last man standing for the PDP. The party gave me the platform to be where I am today.


” I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party. This is democracy. Winners emerge and the losers goes back to the drawing board and rejuvenate .

Speaking at a special church service to mark his 67th birthday at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy Apo in ABUJA , the Senate President said: ” The outcome of the presidential election in favour of APC is the will of God and majority of NIGERIANS. We, in the PDP have accepted the result in good faith.

“Those drifting to the APC now are fair weather friends of the PDP. They are seeking new green areas. When the PDP bounces back, they will seek another return to the PDP.

“I believe in PDP manifestos . I will work hard to bring the party back on track. What is important is that we have established democracy in Nigeria”.

http://oyiidoma..com/2015/04/i-will-be-last-man-standing-for-pdp.html