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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has revealed why ‘the majority’ of Benue residents are opposed to the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

While explaining that the people of the state have ‘nothing against Fulani people’ as it is being insinuated, he adduced reasons for the Benue people’s alleged discontent with the President.

Ortom made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Makurdi and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua.

“We have lived with the Fulani people for ages; we have nothing against them. Even the Fulani people know that we have nothing against them,” Ortom said; recalling that Benue people voted overwhelmingly for former presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Yar’Adua in 1979, 1983 and 2007 respectively.

“We also voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, but while Shagari and Yar’Adua reciprocated the support they received by patronising Benue people through federal appointments and projects, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC have failed to register any positive federal presence in the state,” Ortom said.

“But from my findings, majority of Benue residents are opposed to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC, because they have failed to register any positive federal presence in the state.

“Many people also feel that the APC-led Federal Government has failed to secure lives and property,’’ he added.

The governor promised to work with his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, to bring development to the state.

The statement said that Ortom and Suswam had put the past behind them and had resolved to work together.

In the meantime, Suswam has appealed to Ortom’s close aides to educate the people on the governor’s achievements and his challenges.

He also urged Ortom to entrust his fate in God’s hands so that the creator would always resolve challenges in the governor’s favour.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/gov-ortom-reveals-why-majority-of-benue-residents-oppose-buharis-re-election/

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS) have announced the killing of three gang members of Terwase Akwaza, also called Gana.

The Theatre Commander of the operation, Major General Adeyemi Yekini disclosed this yesterday.

He said the gang attacked some residents of Zaki Biam town in Ukum Local Council Area of Benue State.

It was reported that Gana is the gang leader of the militia group that has been terrorising parts of Benue, particularly the Sankera axis.

His activities made the police and the state government to declare him wanted, including placing N10million ransom on him.

Yekini told journalists in Makurdi that police in Zaki Biam, Headquarters of Ukum Local Council Area of the state had on Sunday night sent a distress call to the troops.

The theatre commandant said his men responded swiftly and killed three of them.

He said: “Barely a day after I addressed journalists on the success the troops have recorded in the past six months, members of Gana group had invaded parts of Zaki Biam.

“Police in Zaki Biam made the distress call to our men that Gana militias stormed parts of the town, to which the troops responded immediately, killing three of them.”

He stressed that 145,000 displaced persons across Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states have returned to their ancestral homes.

Chairman, Gwer West local council, Francis Ayaga, confirmed the return of 33,000 of the 34,900 internally displaced persons, to their ancestral homes.

Also, Chairman, Guma Local Council, Anthony Shawon, said the invading herdsmen operate from Nasarawa State, adding that no part of the area is currently under their occupation.

The commander conducted journalists round to have a field assessment of the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes in Logo and Guma council areas of the state.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/nigerian-army-kill-three-gana-militants-in-benue/

Endowed Tanzanian model, Sanchi, is causing a stir online because of her enormous backside. See more photos here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/check-out-the-body-on-this-curvy-tanzanian-model-sanchi-photos/

The bishop of House of Joy, Sam Zuga, has formally joined the race for Benue state governor on the platform of Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC) and says he will not draw salary if elections governor in 2019.

Zuga in an interview with newsmen on Sunday at his headquarter church popularly known as Sam Zuga City in Gboko, said he was called by the leadership of his party and adopted at its primary election as their candidate to offer his service to people of the state.

“Finally, Benue people have seen my ability to solve problems. If I am elected Governor, I will work for 36 months and the last year will be for me to harvest (see the fruition of work done) what I have planted. If I go there, I won’t collect salary. You don’t work for your father and ask for payment,” he said.

Zuga said under his administration when elected, every Benue family would have a good house in a secure environment, a good car on a good road, a good business in a profitable place, a good farm on a fertile soil, while their children go to good schools at affordable fee and civil servants work in comfortable offices with prompt payment of salaries.

“The cheapest way to tackle insecurity in the state is by pursuing peace. The cost and consequences of war are higher than the cost for peace. Therefore, if I am elected Governor, I will pursue peace so that throughout my stay in the office, there won’t be crisis in the state.

“The present government in the state has done its best. The problem is that their best is not enough. If I am given the chance, I will do better. For a government to succeed, people oriented programmes must top its priority list,” Zuga added.

source; https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/sam-zuga-to-forfeit-salary-if-elected-benue-governor/

President Muhammadu Buhari has identified desertification as the real reason behind the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

He said this when he received executive members of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, led by its President, Mr Rasaq Jaiyeola, at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

He said: “It is very clear to all of us that climate change and environmental challenges are major threats to the peace and prosperity of our nation and its citizens.

“In the Niger-Delta region, man-made environmental problems have adversely impacted the livelihoods of the inhabitants. Farmers and fishermen in particular have seen their means of livelihood destroyed.

“Our assessments have shown it will take decades to reverse this damage. But we have made a start. With or without international cooperation, we are starting to clean up our degraded areas, beginning with Ogoni.

“In the North Central region, we are also seeing a significant increase in farmer herdsmen clashes. This trend, which is recurring in many West and Central African nations is as a result of desertification.’’

Buhari stated that the nation had continued to witness unpredictable rain patterns resulting in significant floods across the riverine communities.

He lamented that these floods had destroyed hundreds of homes and farmlands.

The president, who thanked ICAN for its support and guidance, said he would direct the Economic Management Team to review and address the concerns raised by the Institute with a view to implementing its recommendations.

“Be rest assured that we will continue to partner with prestigious institutions like ICAN for the development of this nation,’’ he said

Buhari further disclosed that his administration would continue to review obsolete laws that were hindering growth in many sectors to promote efficiency in the management of the nation’s economy.

“In the past three years, this administration has worked hard to enhance the transparency and efficiency of public sector financing through the Treasury Single Account.

“We have also introduced policies that are improving the business environment.

“We have implemented projects that had assisted young entrepreneurs.

“We will also continue to review obsolete laws that are hindering growth in many sectors,’’ he said.

He stated that, in the present circumstances, all hands must be on deck to ensure Nigerians work towards an inclusive, diversified and sustainable future.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/buhari-reveals-real-reason-behind-herdsmen-farmers-clashes/

The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, on Friday inaugurated a newly constructed water segmentation tank, as well as overhead and surface water tanks at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The plant is expected to produce over 1,350,000 litres of water per day and serve the entire Air Force’s headquarters, including members of the host community.

While inaugurating the project, Abubakar explained that the construction of the treatment plant was part of efforts to improve the welfare of the Nigerian Air Force personnel.

He said the NAF Base in Makurdi was one of the oldest in the country, hosting about 3,800 service personnel, but facing a gradual deterioration of facilities and infrastructure due to its old age.

He said, “Water is a major problem. You know that from a capacity of about 150,000 litres, we are now providing over a million litres.

“And from a storage facility that is also about 450,000 litres, we’re now providing over two million litres. I believe this will go a long way in making our personnel comfortable.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/naf-chief-opens-water-treatment-plant-in-benue/

Mrs. Comfort Alhassan, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government, has advised officers of Nigeria Airforce (NAF) on “Quick Response Mission” in the local government council area to avoid illicit relationship with village girls or face the wrath of gods.

Alhassan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Agatu during the activation of the 21 Quick Response Wing of NAF in Agatu that any illicit sexual relationship with the girls would spell doom for the soldiers.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal, Sadique Abubakar, was in Agatu to activate the 21 Quick Response Wing of the NAF situated in the local government to deal with cases of insurgency in the area.

NAN reports that in 2016, the whole of the local government area was sacked by herdsmen who forced their way into the place, displaced farmers and set houses ablaze.

The chairman said the advice was imperative owing to the fact that “your body is not wood, but I advise you not to get swelled by your emotions, if you are in love with them, notify their parents of your intentions, but avoid illicit sex with them”.

She, however, commended the Federal Government for situating the quick response wing of the Air Force to her local government council, saying, ” now we can sleep with our two eyes closed”.

She promised to support the soldiers by providing their food needs, adding that “whatever their needs, they should ask of us”.

Alhassan also commended the Federal Government for drilling a borehole within the vicinity of the military facility to supply water to the host community and assured that the facility would be protected.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/lg-boss-warns-air-force-personnel-against-having-sx-with-agatu-girls-in-benue/

The House of Representatives has called on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to rescind its decision to suspend the Benue State University (BSU) from participation in the scheme this period.

The House made this call after adopting a matter of urgent national importance on Thursday by Orker Jev (Benue, PDP).

The lawmakers described the the decision of NYSC as illegal.

Prospective corps members from the BSU and other higher institutions in Benue State were banned by the NYSC from partaking in the compulsory one-year youth service programme on allegation of falsification of age and other sundry reasons.

The situation resulted to protest by the prospective corps members who besieged the state secretariat of the NYSC calling for the body to reverse its decision.

“The conduct of NYSC has brought many untold hardship on many innocent graduates who have not been included in the allegation but are eager to serve the nation,” Mr Orker-Jev said while moving the motion.

He added that the NYSC refused to provide any reason for their action even upon persistent inquiries, until Wednesday when it released a letter justifying the sanction.

The lawmakers called on the scheme to mobilise prospective corps members for the Batch “C” of the scheme coming up next month.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/reps-urge-nysc-to-reverse-suspension-of-benue-varsity/

A Police officer and three others were, yesterday, reportedly killed in a bloody shoot-out when known gunmen attacked Tse- Ujondo, Mechanic site and Tse-Uvia, Zaki Biam town in Ukum local government area of Benue State.

According to an eyewitness in the area, the attackers also burnt down the police checkpoint near the Zaki Biam Mechanic Village. He said, “The attacks stormed the area on motorbikes around 10 am yesterday dressed in military uniforms and shooting radically.

“People started running and in the victims got killed. This is not the first time this type of incident is taking place in Zaki Biam. “As I speak with you these armed men, who are loyal boys to the wanted militia leader, Mr Terwase Akwaza popularly known as Gana, have sacked all the surrounding villages and council wards in the area including, Ugbaam, Borikyo and Kundav wards.

“The incident has triggered a mass movement of people from Zaki Biam and surrounding villages who are fleeing their homes and communities in droves.” Confirming the development in a statement, the Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP. Moses Yamu said among the dead was a small boy.

The statement read in part, “the command wishes to report that at about 11 am Thursday, information was received that some armed Shitile militia also known as “Ghana Boys” dressed in Police Mobile Force and Special Forces uniforms were approaching Zaki Biam town through bush paths, riding on Bajaj motorcycles.

“Their movement was in a bid to escape the ongoing joint security operation tagged “Whirl Stroke” targeted at their enclaves which forced them out, to possibly seek refuge in the town.

“The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ukum Division quickly alerted and mobilised the security forces around in order to repel the militia. “An intense gun duel ensued in which regrettably, one Policeman who was fatally injured and his rifle taken away by the militia was rushed to the hospital alongside two yet to be identified civilians, a woman and a small boy, were confirmed dead at the hospital.

“However, three other persons who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at Light of Grace Hospital, Zaki Biam,” he added. Yamu said the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Ene Okon had intensified efforts to bring the criminal elements to justice.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/policeman-3-others-killed-as-armed-men-invade-benue-community/

No fewer than five persons from Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State were on Wednesday allegedly killed by gunmen suspected to be from Agila community of Benue State.

The victims were reportedly killed following the renewed boundary crisis that ensued between the two states, which according to investigation has lasted for over forty years.

It was gathered that some persons in the affected Ngbo community have stated fleeing the area for fear of further attack.

However, the Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo who visited the scene, said everything had been brought under control.

He called on the people of the area to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

Responding, the governor of Ebonyi State Chief David Umahi, who also visited the families of the affected persons at Ekwashi and Ukwagba communities, expressed shock over the killings.

Umahi, represented by the Deputy Governor,, Dr Kelechi Igwe further expressed dismay over what he called flagrant disregard to agreement by the Agila people.

He observed that Ebonyi people had suffered incessant attacks from the Agilla people in the recent times, and called on the federal government to intervene before the people would resort to self defence.

Umahi appealed to the people to remain calm and be law abiding, assuring that government would ensure permanent resolution of the crisis.

Also speaking, the chairman of the affected Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Barr Clement Odaah alleged that Benue people invaded the people of Ngbo despite peace agreement signed with Ado Local Government council few weeks ago.

He lamented that the incessant attacks by Agilla people were getting out of hand, just as he called on the governor of Benue State to call Agila people to order.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/5-killed-in-renewed-boundary-dispute-between-ebonyi-benue/

Prospective corps members from tertiary institutions across Benue State have protested to the state headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over their alleged ban from serving their father land in the next batch.

It was gathered that on October 2 this year, when the NYSC portal opened, graduates from Benue State University (BSU), Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) and Fidei Polytechnic could not access the portal to register.

It was later gathered that the NYSC had prevented prospective corps members from the above named tertiary institutions from registering because some of the graduates were found culpable of age falsification.

Although the rumour mill had it that the affected schools were slammed a two-year ban from presenting graduates for mobilisation for NYSC.

The aggrieved protesters, who went about their protest in a peaceful manner with placards bearing different inscriptions, however, expressed displeasure at the decision of NYSC to make every graduate in the affected institutions scapegoats for what they said many of them knew nothing about.

They enjoined the Director General of NYSC to look into their plight and ensure a resolution of the matter within the shortest possible period, to enable them register and meet up with mobilisation for the next batch of corps members.

State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Eno Awakessien, who addressed the protesters, agreed that the graduates had genuine grievances, but blamed the anomaly on the students’ affairs officers of the affected schools for colluding with over-aged students in the matter.

Awakessien, who disclosed that six institutions were affected by the ban, however, promised to channel their demand to the appropriate quarters.

“We discovered students officers fielded names of over aged students or names of students that read courses that are excluded from NYSC mobilisation. The students affairs had colluded with some students who were quite ambitious and wanted to serve at all cost and registered them for service.

“An audit was carried out on most of the institutions nationwide and eventually six major institutions were affected and many of them are actually from Benue State. The audit report has been sent to the affected schools and the schools are aware of what exactly is expected of them,” said, Awakessien.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of BSU, Prof. Msugh Kembe in a chat with newsmen in his office yesterday disclosed that as soon as the issue was brought to his knowledge that the institution’s list of graduates could not be uploaded on the NYSC portal, he directed that a letter be written to the DG of NYSC.

Kembe said the school had just received a reply to that letter from the NYSC and was studying it to ascertain the cause and apply commensurate sanctions where necessary.

“The whole issue had to do with alterations in date of birth of some prospective corps members and we want to find out where that is coming from. We will constitute a committee to investigate the matter.

“You know there is this hacking of data that is very prevalent these days. But if we find any of our staff involved in this, he will be properly sanctioned.”

The VC also appealed to the NYSC to temper justice with mercy in the matter and punish only those who were found guilty rather than punishing a whole institution for the sin committed by few people.

He, however, debunked rumour that the school had been banned from presenting graduates for NYSC for two years saying that, “there is nothing like a two year ban, but NYSC is asking that the right thing be done, that’s, all.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/prospective-corps-members-protest-ban-in-benue/

Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to release the Paris Club refund it seized from the Benue State Government to enable government to pay the workers’ salaries.

The Federal Government had released the last tranche of the Paris Club refund to Benue State amounting to N14.9bn but was later withdrawn from the state account.

Speaking on the withdrawal of the Paris Club refund, Uba accused the Federal Government of targeting Benue as a way of punishing the people of the state for no reason.

The Speaker alleged that some of the states who were also affected by the Paris Club refund withdrawal had been given their money.

“For me, I would say Benue was a target because the money had been released to some other states. Why is Benue’s case different?”

Uba, however, expressed the assurance that the Federal Government would soon release the money to the state.

He urged the people of the state to remain calm.

“We believe the money will be released to us because it is our money. Benue people should just be patient. The governor is not resting on the matter. It is our money and it will be sent back to us and the people will have the benefit of that money,” Uba stated.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/release-seized-paris-club-refund-benue-speaker-begs-fg/

Benue state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Emmanuel Jime has distanced himself from a group known as APC Fulani Nationwide which endorsed his candidature for 2019.

Leader of the group Garus Gololo had granted an interview to newsmen Sunday in Makurdi and pledged the group’s loyalty to Jime’s candidature for the 2019 Benue Governorship.

He claimed that the APC candidate was ready to accommodate all Fulani men and their cows and make them part of the new government in the state.

But reacting, Jime alleged that the endorsement by Garus Gololo, national leader of the group was the creation of the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom and his campaign organisation to discredit him.

A statement issued to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday and signed by Sontor Solomon, Secretary, Jime campaign organisation, noted that rather than meet the APC on the highroad of issues and ideas, Ortom has remained stuck down there in the gutter of irredeemable falsehood, satanic fabrications and nervous hysteria.” “We understand the panic mode Jime’s emergence has thrown Governor Ortom into; and we also understand that Jime has given the PDP a nervous breakdown.

And in that condition, anything irrational is possible, with the Ortom entourage not bothering about limits.

“For us in team Jime and the Benue APC, we may be politicians, but we are still pledged to the fundamental tenets of fair-play and the high-road of an issue-based campaign.

After all, it is not a do-or-die affair! However, reacting to the statement by Jime’s campaign group, President Benue Youth Forum, Terrence Kuanum, slammed Jime for taking it out on Ortom, rather than Gololo who endorsed his candidature.

He said the endorsement of the APC candidate by Gololo was a game plan by the Fulani oligarchy who had earlier promised to remove Governor Ortom from office.

source: [url] https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/benue-governorship-aspirant-jime-distances-self-from-fulani-groups-endorsement/[/url]

Before Governor Samuel Ortom dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last August, rumour mills had it that he had a running battle with his political godfather and leader of the party in Benue State, Senator George Akume.

It was therefore not a surprise to many when he dumped the party after raising the alarm that Akume had issued him a red card, meaning he was no longer needed in the APC.

Ortom’s defection to the PDP practically meant that he was left with no other option than to work with his predecessor, former Governor Gabriel Suswam with whom he had been at loggerheads since assuming leadership of the state in 2015, ostensibly fuelled by Akume, their political godfather, who had a hand in their emergence as governors of the state at different times. Thus, Ortom and Suswam have elected to forget the past and teamed up to oust a common enemy.

And the first step to prepare a formidable political onslaught against the Akume dynasty, after supporting Ortom’s re-entry into the PDP, Suswam also supported Governor Ortom to pick the PDP governorship ticket. The duo who friends before the 2015 elections have found their political groove again and are determined to retire Senator Akume from the Senate on account of non-performance.

So far, the PDP senatorial candidate for Benue North West district and serving federal lawmaker, Mr. Orker Jev, has continued to enjoy support from the entire PDP family including Ortom and Suswam who obviously felt that their estranged political godfather deserves retirement from the Senate after three terms of 12 years at the end of the current dispensation.

Governor Ortom while applauding the PDP for picking him as the governorship flag-bearer of the party in the 2019 election said his emergence had put an end to godfatherism in Benue politics.

Obviously referring to Senator Akume and his alleged overbearing influence on political allies, Ortom lamented that such acts were responsible for the below par performance of those entrusted with leadership responsibilities because political godfathers would not allow such persons space to perform.

His words: “My victory therefore will mark an end to god fatherism in Benue politics because we will not allow it or encourage it. I am not prepared to be a political god father to anyone because I cannot ascribe such powers to myself, moreover you cannot become anything or get anything in life if not given by God so why would any man assume the position of god?”

It is however left to be seen if Senator Akume would survive this double barrelled onslaught unleashed by two formidable political allies who are determined to change the political narrative in Benue.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/benue-gov-ortom-suswam-sheathe-swords-to-fight-godfather/

The APC Fulani Nationwide has backed the candidature of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag bearer in Benue State, Barr. Emmanuel Jime for the 2019 election.

National Leader of the group, Garus Gololo, told our correspondent through telephone on Sunday that Jime is their preferred candidate for the Benue Government House’s job.

“We are fully behind Jime. All APC Fulani nationwide would support Jime, Senator Geroge Akume and President Muhammadu Buhari to win their elections,” he said.

Gololo who also applauded the leadership of APC in the state for giving the governorship ticket to Jime, stressed that he is the best man for the job and that a vote for him into office meant that the Fulani herders and their cows would be accommodated for peaceful coexistence in the state.

“Let me tell you that Jime is the right candidate to win Benue governorship election 2019. You remembered even in 2015, he was the best candidate but he (Jime) was humiliated just because they brought Ortom (incumbent Governor) after he lost election in PDP.

“So, now that the party has brought Jime back as a candidate, we are going to vote him and work with him because l know that he would emerge victorious at the end of the day and no Fulani herdsmen would be chased out of Benue like what the incumbent governor who has returned to PDP has done,” he added

source; https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/fulani-group-backs-jime-for-benue-governorship/

Benue State government has dismissed alleged claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it is seeking approval from the House of Assembly to access a N10 billion loan.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Terver Akase, urged the people of Benue State and other Nigerians to disregard the insinuation.He said: “APC’s latest false claim that the state government was planning to obtain the alleged loan is the height of desperation by a political party that is bent on misleading the public.

“This particular lie smacks of frustration and fury within the APC’s camp to drag the name and office of Governor Samuel Ortom to disrepute, having failed in all their previous attempts to remove the governor through illegality and impunity.”The statement disclosed that the government has met all requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assuring that the recently recalled Paris Club refunds will soon be returned to the state for the payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/gov-ortom-dismisses-apcs-claim-of-n10b-loan-by-benue-state/