₦airaland Forum

Baring any unforeseen circumstance, the Board Chairman of Project Development Institute, PRODA, Daniel Onjeh, would be named as running mate to governorship candidate in Benue State, Emmanuel Jime of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This is just as the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has reportedly insisted that Onjeh was qualified for the position that any of the contenders.

It was gathered that the APC caucus in Benue State had suggested the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh, as running mate to Jime, but an impeccable party stalwart on Friday said that because of Oshiomhole’s interest in Benue and for the purpose of capturing the state come 2019, he has insisted to remain with Onjeh, whom he believes is more credible and loved by majority of Benue youths.

According to the source who pleaded anonymity, Oshiomhole having governed Edo State despite coming from the minority, believes Onjeh should be given a chance.

Among those penned down for the number two job in the state were: Akoh, Onjeh, Nelson Alapa, and Samuel Odeh.

It was also learnt that a former governor of the state and Senator representing Benue North West, Goerge Akume, is currently rooting for Odeh to deputize Jime.

However, the source reliably revealed that ”Oshiomhole stated that Onjeh should be the party’s deputy governorship candidate due to his track record and his contribution to the party, even in the last campaign,” he said.

The source said Oshiomhole is “not bothered about the aspirants’ various arguments, but that what he cares about is ”how to win Benue in 2019 and revive the state.”

He said, “It is high time Nigerians avoid sentiments and trust people who can deliver.

”As a product of a minority from Edo State that became a strong political figure, Oshiomhole has sympathy for minorities across the country,” he said.

The source disclosed that the party leadership believes that its high time ”we de-emphasize the issue of zoning and go for competence.”

Speaking further, the source said the APC Chairman is convinced that, “Onjeh has the capacity and support of the young people.”

”He believes Onjeh has the pedigree and it surpasses all other sentiments.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/benue-guber-oshiomhole-insists-on-daniel-onjeh-as-jimes-deputy/

Benue Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Coalition, BYC, has debunked media reports that the antics of former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam almost frustrated Benue delegates from voting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The body in a statement signed by its Chairman, Bem Aondona and Secretary, James Oteikwu yesterday in Makurdi, maintained that allegation credited to one Josephine Wanshima was orchestrated by politicians who were afraid of Suswam’s credentials but resorted resorted to campaign of calumny against the former governor.

The Coalition also wondered how the said Wanshima who was not one of the delegates from Benue came up with spurious and unfounded claims about logistics from Atiku which was never an issue at the convention. The statement read in part,

“We condemn the attempt by Josephine Wanshima and her sponsors to destroy the hard earned image of Suswam who has spent the better part of his life building the PDP, not only in Benue State but the country as a whole.

“It is on record that the choice by the former governor, as a leader of integrity group who chose to stand with the PDP even after the party lost power since 2015 and attracted intimidation, victimisation and blackmail and therefore his traducers should leave him alone as he does not deserve to be treated the manner he is being portrayed.

“We also condemn the evolving trend of ‘pull down’ syndrome being done to Suswam now which has been the bane of Benue state since the state was created in 1976 as that has not led it anywhere.

“We urge Nigerians, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization, the PDP family in Benue State and the entire Benue population to ignore the claims made by Wanshima as they were baseless and unfounded. “The Gabriel Suswam we know has high regards for Atiku Abubakar and will not hesitate to mobilize en masse Benue people to vote for him in 2019.

“We wish at this conjure to advise Josephine Wanshima who unfortunately appears to be an idle indigene of the hardworking Benue populace, to seek better ways of livelihood rather than resorting to idleness and peddling of unfounded allegations.”

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/benue-pdp-coalition-debunks-allegations-against-suswam/

Wife of the Benue State Governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom, on Thursday said 19 out of the 23 local government areas of the state had been attacked by Fulani herdsmen.

The attacks, she noted, had increased the number of orphans and out-of-school girls in the state.

The governor’s wife stated this during the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child organised by the Eunice Spring of Life Foundation with the theme “Empower Girls Before, During and After Conflict” held at the J.S. Tarka Complex.

She said gender-based violence could cause an increase in sexual and physical violence, child marriage, exploitation and adolescent girls’ trafficking.

The governor’s wife added that 90 per cent of adolescent girls who live in crisis-prone areas in Benue State were more likely to be out-of-school than girls who live in conflict-free areas.

“This is a clear danger signal for now and the future because the Benue woman advancement agenda we have been promoting and celebrating is likely to have a short lifespan if changes are not made.

“The danger clearly lies in falling education and training of Benue children to take up the challenges of being creative in solving emerging issues, problems and contributing to the social, political and economic growth of the state.

“It is worrisome to note that the herdsmen attacks on 19 of the 23 local government areas of the state have resorted to an increase in the number of orphans due to the death of many parents while many of the children, particularly, female are out of school.”

Mrs Ortom recalled the UNICEF projection that “of the one billion young people including 600 million adolescent girls that will enter the workforce in the next decade, more than 90 per cent of those living in the developing countries will be in the informal sector where low or no pay abuse and exploitation are common.”

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/herdsmen-attacked-19-of-23-benue-councils/

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has warned Senator from the North Western part of the state, Goerge Akume against godfatherism in the state.

Ortom warned that the type of godfatherism being practised in Lagos State will not work in Benue State.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, the governor said Akume, who was a former governor of the state was attacking him not because he had not performed but because he refused to bow to godfatherism.

Ortom said this in reaction to a statement credited to Akume, where he described his performance in office as abysmal.

Reacting, Ortom’s aide said, “Akume’s criticism of Governor Samuel Ortom has nothing to do with performance but everything to do with Ortom’s refusal to be subservient and be subjugated to his (Akume’s) whims.

“It has become a trend for Nigerian godfathers to suffocate their godchildren for failing to be totally slavish to them.

“This is unfortunate of godfathers who see themselves as gods as it happened in Lagos State.

“Unfortunately for Akume, he failed to achieve the same selfish dreams for Ortom in like manner.”

Ortom had earlier accused Akume of embezzling the sum of N2bn from the state treasury

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/10/why-akume-is-after-me-benue-state-gov-ortom-reiterates/

The Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend resolved that the North Central zone should produce the next President of the country because the zone has experienced, competent and qualified aspirant seeking the position.

The party leaders in the state made their position known during a meeting they held with Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who was in Makurdi to brief and seek the support of the national delegates to the PDP national convention on his aspiration.

In his speech, the state chairman, John Mgbede, said the North Central zone has paid its dues and played the role of stabilizer at critical period in the nation such that now that it has leading presidential aspirants with the clout and vision to provide better governance, the other zones should support the aspirants. Mgbede however assured Saraki that the PDP delegates in Benue State have taken note of his address to them and his antecedents, particularly in the Senate, and that they will ensure that he will be remembered when it is time to vote at the convention.

“You have served very well. If you can stabilize the Senate the way you did in the last three years, then you can unite and hold Nigeria together. You have proved yourself as a defender of democracy. You have displayed competence, character, compassion and credibility and trustworthiness. You can count on us”, Mgbede said. In his address to the delegates, Saraki told them that he has a long history with Benue State which dates back to the good relationship between his father and late Senator J. S. Tarka and that he has sustained this relationship by not toying with issues concerning the state.

“Benue State has been supportive. My objective in this race is to make Nigeria better. Benue can only be better when Nigeria is better and the standard of living of the people improved tremendously with infrastructure development on the rise. ” If elected President, I will give sense of belonging to all citizens. We should all be protected. We need to work together. If I am elected President, then you can be sure somebody from Benue has been elected President.

We need a leader that is capable, competent, fair minded and with a sense of justice to grow Nigeria. We need a President that we can all be proud of. “Great country emerges not by luck but through correct and visionary leadership. I have strived to keep the Senate together despite intimidation, suppression and oppression.

Holding Nigeria together is a job that requires energy and youthfulness. We need to bring vigour, new vision, new ideas, creativity and thinking out of the box. I am tested. I served as governor for eight years. As Governor, I started a Programme to promote commercial agriculture. Benue State has to be declared as a zone for commercial agriculture.

I was chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and I have been in he Senate for over seven years now and three of these years have been as President of the Senate. “We have paid our dues in the North Central zone. We have worked for the unity and stability of the country. The time is ripe for us to provide competent and experienced leadership for this country”, Saraki stated.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/09/north-central-should-produce-next-president-benue-pdp/

Herdsmen, yesterday, engaged the military personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke in a six-hour bloody exchange of gunfire at Tse Chiata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Though the causality figure in the battle has not been ascertained, but it was gathered that several members of the militant gang were killed in the exchange.

Confirming the development, Chairman of Guma local government area, Mr. Anthony Shawon confirmed that the herdsmen had already taken over and occupied part of Mbagwen community, a border village between Benue and Nasarawa states.

Shawon said: “In fact, there is one ‘barrack’ they established at Tse Chiata village and immediately they saw the military on patrol in the area they opened fire on them but the military took them on. The battle lasted from morning till about mid day before the military overpowered the armed herdsmen.

“The military also succeeded in burning down the ‘barrack’ which the herdsmen code named ’72 battalion’ at Tse Chiata. When the military overran them they left but the military discovered that they have a bigger ‘barrack’ in front but they could not reach it.

“The herdsmen have already taken over about seven kilometers of Benue land from the border between Nasarawa and Benue states, where they freely graze after chasing the locals away. “None of our people who own the communities can access their homes and farmland again. “Unfortunately, all the bridges in that area have been burnt and destroyed by the militant herdsmen so the military cannot reach those places.

“Our fear is that even our people who are farming now are scared because by November the herdsmen would sack the people from the farms and harvest their crops. That is what they have been doing to us.

“The situation at the moment is that the military are in total control and if not for them none of us would have been able to go back to our homes and farms.” When contacted, the Commander of the military Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, said his personnel on patrol in Guma ran into some of the militant herdsmen who however fled on sighting the team.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has appointed Veronica Onyeke as the new Head of Service.

Mrs Onyeke, according to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, is the first female head of state in Benue, since the creation of the state in 1967.

She hails from Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.

Until her elevation, Mrs Onyeke was a Permanent Secretary in the office of the Deputy Governor.

She takes over from Engineer George Ede who is to proceed on retirement.

Onyeke has become the first female substantive Head of Service since the creation of Benue in 1976.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/09/benue-gets-first-female-head-of-service/

Mr. Daniel Onjeh, Board Chairman Project Development Institute (PRODA) and Benue South Senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed the presidential ambition of former President of the Senate, Sen David Mark.

Onjeh, who attempted to unseat Mark in the 2015 election, said Mark, as a Senator has been a failure and outrightly dismissed his bid to gun for the highest post in the land. Onjeh said Mark simply lacked the capacity to rule Nigeria. The former President of the Senate had obtained the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency in 2019.

Onjeh gave his view on David Mark on Thursday in Abuja after obtaining the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the Benue South Senatorial district election in 2019.

Onjeh who was a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) contested against Sen. Mark in 2015. After Mark was declared winner, Onjeh challenged the result in court. However, in the rerun ordered by the court in February 2016,, Mark emerged the victor polling 84, 192 votes. Onjeh got 71, 621 votes. Onjeh stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari has done exceedingly well in the key areas of our national polity.

He added that the former President of the Senate lacks the moral right to contest the presidency with Buhari in 2019. The aspirant said he would not be swayed by sentiment, tribe, ethnicity or religion. He added that Buhari has proven his capacity to resolve the cause of the country’s underdevelopment, and that the Benue South people would vote for him en masse come 2019. Speaking about the former President the Senate, Onjeh said he was not sure that a man who couldn’t attend to the immediate security challenges of a zone in his state could handle that of the country.

“Ideally it would be appropriate to support one from your home town, particularly for the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “It is an office every ethnic group or tribe would want to have his or her own occupy but unfortunately in my own view, David Mark does not deserve the support,”he said. This, the aspirant added, was especially so because, he failed when he was given the responsibility to impact the lives of his people and Nigerians generally.

“David Mark was a monumental failure to the entire Benue South people. Like they say, charity begins from home. He practically made the Senate his permanent abode. “He has been there twice as an ordinary Senator and twice as a sitting Senate President. “At the time, he was a sitting Senator under former President Goodluck Jonathan, one would be correct to say he was a de facto President.

“He had everything at his disposal to effect the changes we expected to see in this nation, particularly with respect to Benue South people,”Onjeh said. He added that if the former President of the Senate could not influence developmental change and address poverty in the country while he held sway, he would not do any better as president of the country. According to him, while Mark was President of the Senate, people from his home state lived in abject poverty and deprivation.

He added that the length of his stay in the senate, does not commensurate with the level of development on ground in Benue South and the state generally. He alleged that Benue South had been completely disconnected from the Federal Government and lacks democracy dividends. Onjeh maintained that he was in the race again because the issues which warranted his earlier aspiration in 2015 were still lingering and unresolved.

“A cursory and comparative look at the Benue South, makes it safe for one to conclude that our people are the most deprived, and our district the most underdeveloped in Nigeria, in spite of the humongous constituency funds allocated to the zone in the last 19 years. “We’ve been existing without a voice since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999,”he said. According to him, the people of his senatorial district lacked effective representation in the Senate. “I aspire to effectively represent my people at the red chamber, to carry the silenced voice of the vast majority of the Benue South people to national,”he said.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/09/david-mark-was-a-monumental-failure-benue-senatorial-aspirant/

The Federal Government has so far paid N37.5 million to support the poor in Benue under its Social Re-investment Programme.

Mrs Mary Igwe, an official with the State Unit of the Cash Transfer Office, said the money was paid to 938 extremely poor and vulnerable persons in the state.

Igwe said at a training programme for cash transfer facilitators on Tuesday in Makurdi, that each beneficiary received N10,000 every two months.

The training has as its theme, “Enrollment of Cash Transfer Beneficiaries using New Mobile Application”.

She said that the programme which covered seven local government areas of the state, began eight months ago.

According to her, the disbursement of the funds commenced after an agreement between the Federal and Benue Government on the implementation of the social welfare intervention programme.

She said the beneficiaries had been encouraged to form “financially active groups where so many have benefited from the contribution scheme.”

On the training, Igwe said it was to acquaint the facilitators on the use of relevant technologies to enrol new beneficiaries into the scheme.

“The State Cash Transfer Unit has received a list of 4,832 names from the National Cash Transfer office drawn from the National Social Insurance registry for the purpose of re-enrollment using the newly acquired application.

” The application is intended to automate data captured in the field while minimizing data acquisition related problems.”

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/fg-supports-extreme-poor-with-n37-5m-in-benue/

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investment Programme, Mrs Maryam Uwais, on Tuesday, alleged that funds for the Federal Government Home Grown School Feeding Programme were being diverted in Benue State.

According to her, the number of beneficiaries of the school feeding programme in Benue State is inflated.

Uwais spoke with journalists shortly after meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom, whom she paid a courtesy visit to at the Government House in Makurdi.

She lamented that the Federal Government Social Investment Programmes, particular the home-grown school feeding programme, were almost becoming unsuccessful in Benue State.

She noted that Benue was one of the prime states for the Federal Government Social Investment Programme.

Uwais said Ortom’s decision to reposition the Benue State office of the programme was a step in the right direction.

“We also have over 900,000 cooks in Benue, but we are trying to reorganise it because we have found a lot of anomalies, in terms of the number of pupils and the number of cooks,” she said.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/fgs-school-feeding-programme-funds-diverted-in-benue-uwais/

The Benue State Government says it will spend N46 million to rehabilitate 21 township roads to enhance movements of persons and goods in the state.

Mr Hyosange Akaagerger, Permanent Secretary and Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Transport and Energy, made the disclosure in an interview with News men on Tuesday in Makurdi.

Akaagerger said that work had started on 21 critical roads, although 25 roads had been earmarked for rehabilitation.

He listed the roads to include Ishaya Bakut, Old Otukpo, Kashim Ibrahim and Iyorchia Ayu Roads.

Others are Achumugu Peter, Ogiri Oko, Gondo Aluor, JoeAkaahan Roads, David Mark Bypass and Jonah Jang Crescent.

Also undergoing rehabilitation, he said, are Old Lafia Road, Atom Kpera, J.S. Tarka to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Roads.

The acting commissioner said FMC to Government House Roundabout, Bill Anakaa and Father Hunter’s Roads were under rehabilitation.

“Benue Crescent to Bush Bar-Naka road, Ankpa quarters to Rainoil Junction, NKST lane-low level, Konshisha Street to Katsina-Ala Street were all undergoing renovations,’’ he said.

Akaagerger added that all the roads at the three major rail crossings had been fixed.

He disclosed that the state government would now focus on roads in Gboko, Katsina-Ala and Otukpo, headquarters of the three senatorial zones.

‘‘Our rural roads need to be fixed too. Apart from the township roads, other critical roads to be considered are the rural areas.

‘‘They are major towns and the volume of vehicular movement is high; major socio economic businesses are carried out on these routes, there are also major inter states links,” he noted.

The commissioner also said that the construction of new major roads would commence soon.

“We have new layouts springing up without access roads and it is a thing of concern to the government to construct new roads,” he said.

Akaagerger said the new roads would include the Customary Court of Appeal road leading to George Akume Way as well as the VIO training ground linking Old Customs Quarters in North bank.

Also, the Mobile Junction to Industrial Layout and Adaka village mop out to connect the main access road.

‘‘When constructed, most of the roads will act as bypasses, the town will be decongested of traffic and lesser time will be spent on the roads,’’ he said.

The acting commissioner said the state government had called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the River Katsina – Ala Bridge.

He recalled that the 40 year-old bridge constructed in 1978 had suffered much neglect adding that it needed routine maintenance.

He said an on the spot assessment by the Federal Controller of Works and a team of civil engineers showed that the surface of the bridge had deteriorated.

“There are failed portion at the pedestrian ways and have cracks at the embodiments.

‘‘The state of the bridge is worrisome and presently the pillars are cracked and shaking,” he said.

Akaagerger appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene to prevent its imminent collapse.

According to report which claims that plans are underway to assassinate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom along the Lafia-Makurdi Road by unknown political opponents.

A source claimed that some political opponents working for top politicians have allegedly connived with top government officials to assassinate the governor along the ever-busy Makurdi-Lafia Road.

He said the plan was to frustrate the Governor from using any chartered flight to Abuja for political and other important meetings and consequently expose him to attack along the Makurdi-Lafia Road.

According to him, ‘’We have important security information that Governor Ortom is one of their targets for possible assassination. Some politicians working with top people in government are working together to ensure the Governor’s effort to secure the State is frustrated.

‘’Their plan is to attack him along Makurdi-Lafia Road. People have taken politics to a different height. We believe the world is watching and listening to our cry in Benue State,’’ the top government official said.

Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terve Akase told reporters that the Governor was aware of the plan to assassinate him. He said the plan was already being carried out as there is a fresh order said to be banning all flights to Makurdi.

He said, ‘’Usually, because of the Governor’s regular meetings and other important things, he uses flight to Abuja, but now, there is an order banning all flights to Makurdi. This is a clear setup. We are also aware of the plan to assassinate him along the Makurdi-Lafia Road. This is a sad development as we believe some people are just carrying out a written script on how to silence Governor Ortom.’’

more details here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/benue-gov-ortom-reveals-how-herdsmen-are-planning-to-kidnap-kill-him/

Ethnic leaders in Benue State, on the platform of Mdzough U Tiv, MUT; Idoma National Forum, INF, and Omi Ny’Igegde, ONI, have condemned what they described as the economic strangulation of Benue Government and its people by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The leaders, who wondered why the government and people of the state have been singled out for what they described as persecution and intimidation by the anti-graft agency for unjustifiable reasons, maintained that the resolve of EFCC to probe the security votes of the state government was nothing but a witch-hunt.

In a statement in Makurdi, jointly signed by Chief Edward Ujege, President General of MUT, Amali Amali, President INF, and Benjamin Okpa, ONI’s President General, the leaders said: “We begin to wonder whether EFCC is not acting a political script.

We believe that EFCC has an ulterior motive, otherwise the probe of security votes of Benue State should have commenced from 1999 to date and to cover all the states of the federation, including that of the Federal Government.

“We think there should be equity and fair play, expecting that all government agencies should protect the citizens and not to be seen as political apparatus.”

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/benue-ethnic-leaders-accuse-efcc-of-witch-hunt/

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association on Tuesday warned the President of Senate, Bukola Saraki, to resign his position immediately or be forced to do so.

The national coordinator of the association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, gave the warning in an interview in Makurdi.

Gololo said Saraki had created numerous problems for the administration of President Muhammad Buhari, which he said had affected the economic and social growth of the nation.

“It is on this note that we are saying that Saraki ought not to be in office again as Senate President, more so, Saraki has failed to coordinate and organise the National Assembly to offer quality legislation that Nigerians need.

“Nigerians are in dire need of people that have the interest of the masses. Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency.

“We are now tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out”, Gololo said, refusing, however, to explain how the association would remove the Senate president.

Reacting to the comment by Governor Ortom accusing a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, of being an agent of the Miyetti Allah, Gololo said Tsav was not a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association or a Fulani man by tribe and couldn’t have been an agent of the Miyetti Allah.

He urged governor Ortom to face his problem with the EFCC and leave Miyetti Allah alone.

“Ortom should forget about anything called Miyetti Allah and grazing law and fight for his re-election because Benue people and his new party (PDP) have rejected him,” adding that the PDP would not give him the ticket to run in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/miyetti-allah-to-saraki-resign-or-well-force-you-out/

The Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated his fitness to run for a second term by trekking 800 metres from the Eid praying ground in Daura to his private residence.

After the Eid prayers, President Buhari shunned protocol and opted to trek some 800 metres, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians, who lined up on his home route to catch a glimpse of him.

One of the aspirants interested in the president’s office is Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who said last week that President is “too old” to continue to rule the country beyond 2019 According to Tambuwal, President Buhari is just too old to be Nigeria’s leader, despite his integrity and impeccable character.

Tambuwal stated this during a solidarity visit of students and youth in Sokoto, last week. Tambuwal said: “We love President Buhari and that was why we supported him in 2015 unconditionally, and while doing that, we were too sure that he will seek re-election after his first term, but when things are wrong we have to tell him.

“We still believe in his integrity, patriotism and courage but these are not enough for a leader. “We all know that there is a vacuum in the government occasioned by his disposition probably because of his old age or health condition. That is why Nigerians are yearning for younger ones to lead this country.”

However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the trekking by the President was a positive response to Tambuwal’s diatribe. He said: “I think there are two things here; one is to say that the President is responsive to the enormous support and commitment of his own people that had come out in their numbers to see him and he just decided that he couldn’t go on riding in a black vehicle and he came out and walked the distance.

“The second thing, he is curious that these days, one or two people who are aspiring to be president are campaigning on their youthfulness and good health. “I think the President has done one thing today – that the issue is not how old one is but how fit he is; how healthy he is.

Now that the President has proven his fitness and well-being to continue in office is a settled matter “I think that if people want to campaign against him they should do so on issues that are of significance to Nigerians. The President is fit, he is healthy; he is good to go for second term.”

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/president-buhari-physically-fit-for-2nd-term-presidency-replies-tambuwal/

The Nigerian Army Post Housing Development Limited (NAPHSDL), said it has concluded arrangement to build a total of 221 units housing estate worth N7.5 billion in Benue State.

The housing estate, which is to be located at Otukpo, is being built in conjunction with the Otukpo Local Government Council of Benue State and Betronic West Nigerian Limited.

Managing Director in charge of the Nigerian Army Post-Service Housing Development Limited, Brig.-Gen. Mahe Bashir, made this known in a ceremony organised to sign the agreement between the Army and officials of the Benue State government, in Abuja, said the houses would be made available to both military and civilian personnel at a ratio of 50-50.

He also said that the mode of payment would be made known to the public at a later date.

Gen. Bashir, who said the project was approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Buratai, used the occasion to announce that the estate would be for Nigerians irrespective of location, adding that it would be financed through public and private partnership.

He listed some of the facilities in the estate to include surface roads with asphalt cover, street lights, water and other essential facilities.

In his address at the occasion, the Chairman of Betronic West Nigerian Limited, Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan, who said the housing project would be completed in 24 months, said the project would starts with the construction of 4 and 3 bedroom bungalows, and later the 4 and 3 bedroom duplexes before the detached houses will follow.

Also Speaking, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Hon. George Alli, said the project which is first of its kind outside the state capital, was borne out of the experience he got from working with the Nigerian Army PHD limited in the past.

According to him, the project would be of great benefit to the Idoma community as it would help “reduce crime among youths. It would create wealth because internally generated revenue will increase and IGI will increase to the Otukpo council as well.

source; https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/army-to-build-221-post-service-housing-worth-n7-5billion-in-benue/

more photos here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/photos-of-nigerian-army-destroying-herdsmen-camp-in-benue/

The Nigerian army has disclosed photos of burnt camp belonging to suspected herdsmen in Gbajimba-Akor axis in Guma local government area of Benue state.

Army spokesman, Texas Chukwu, revealed that WHIRL STROKE troops while on clearance operation encountered armed militia with large herds of cattle.

Source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/photos-of-nigerian-army-destroying-herdsmen-camp-in-benue/

A Makurdi High Court presided over by Justice Theresa Igoche has issued an interim order restraining eight members of Benue State House of Assembly from going ahead with their impeachment process against Governor Samuel Ortom.

The court also granted the motion ex parte ordering the Police and all members of security agencies to, without further delay, vacate the Benue State Assembly complex.

Justice Igoche gave the ruling in the application by Mr. Sebastian Hon, on behalf of Governor Samuel Ortom, 22 members of Benue House of Assembly, the Government of Benue State and the Attorney General of the state.

The applicants had, Monday, approach the court seeking eight reliefs including, among others, an order of the court barring the eight members from sitting and the Chief Judge of the State from acting on any request and proceedings from the eight lawmakers.

In her ruling, Justice Igoche, who reaffirmed a subsisting order by the Chief Judge, Justice Adams Onum, restraining the former Speaker and former principal officers of the House from parading themselves as same, also restrained the Chief Judge from acting on any process or request, proceeding and resolution issued pursuant to the removal of the governor by the defendants, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

According to her, “this is a motion ex parte brought pursuant to Order 7 Rule 5(1), Order 39 Rule 3(2) of the Benue State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2007, sections 96, 97 and 99 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, 2004 and Inherent Powers of Court. “The said reliefs are hereby granted.

By way of further order this court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case, it is hereby ordered that this interim order shall last for only seven days from today. “The motion on notice shall be served on the respondents as ordered above, for them to be heard on August 7, 2019.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/you-cant-impeach-gov-ortom-court-tells-8-benue-lawmakers/

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has promised to work alongside his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, former Senate President, David Mark and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for a greater Benue.

Ortom, therefore, called on all Benue indigenes to put aside politics and put all hands on deck to make the state better.

Governor Ortom, who was addressing the NEC Meeting of PDP today in Abuja on Thursday, said he’s back to his home.

He promised to do all within his power to make sure the PDP returned to power in the state next year.

“I’m happy that my brothers Dr Gabriel Suswam, Senators David Mark, Barnabas Gemade and Iyorchia Ayu are here with me. Together, we will work for a greater Benue State,” he said.

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/gov-ortom-speaks-on-alliance-with-suswam-mark-gemade/

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has made another shocking revelation on the reasons for his exit from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ortom in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, said contrary to the rumours being peddled by his political enemies that his administration had done nothing, he had embarked on monumental developmental projects across the 23 LGAs of the state.

The full text of his speech below:

My dear good and patriotic People of Benue State.
I am sure you are aware of the recent political developments in our State. I took time to address some of the issues in my phone in Radio program and our meeting with the media community on Monday.

Our challenges are not over. The wave of illegality with impunity is here with us. On Monday, the impeached speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, along with seven members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the house created a scandalous scene.

They were escorted to the Assembly by heavily armed policemen in several trucks to perpetrate the level of impunity we have never seen before in this state. The mission appears to be the second phase of the deliberate destabilization of our dear state after the Fulani herdsmen concerted invasion, killings and destruction.
All these are coming under the veil of a plan to impeach some opposition governors including the democratically elected governor of Benue State. The ultimate objective of the grand conspiracy is the destabilization of the entire Middle Belt and other parts of the country for the purpose of conquest and occupation.

22 out of the 30 members of the State assembly sat and changed their leadership. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as well as the Standing Rules of the House.

The 22 members approached the Makurdi High Court, sought and obtained an injunction restraining the former leaders from parading themselves as leaders of the house. The restraining order also covered the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

They were restrained from occupying the premises of the assembly and interfering with members lawful duties. Both the impeached speaker who was also suspended for six months, and other leaders mobilized the police and blatantly disobeyed the court order.
In disobedience to the court order, the police prevented the 22 members from getting into the house premises while they escorted the 8 members right into the chambers for illegal sitting without the Clerk or his Deputy. They did not also form a quorum for the sitting.

However, in that sitting, illegality became the order of the day. These included the purported suspension of the 15 members and passing a resolution to serve an impeachment notice on me. It is clear that this impunity with illegality is dead on arrival. You can see the wide spread condemnations, from President Muhammadu Buhari, right across the country and beyond.

Having failed to achieve their anti-Benue objectives so far, the next phase is likely to be the unleashing of massive Fulani militia to embark on more devastating attacks and killings in the state. The most unfortunate aspect is that some sons of the state including a serving senator have been recruited and mobilized to lead this phase.

Read his full text here: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/gov-ortom-makes-shocking-revelation-on-his-exit-from-apc/

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has urged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to start the probe of security vote from the Presidency, if the anti-graft agency was not after him for dumping All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ortom had dumped the APC last week, with the EFCC commencing immediate probe of his security vote. The governor described his probe as a clear case of persecution and witch-hunting.

The governor, who made the call, yesterday, in a live state broadcast to the people in Makurdi, wondered why he would be singled out among all governors in the country for such probe. He advised the anti-graft agency to begin the probe from the Presidency.

He said: “So far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose Security Vote is being investigated by the EFCC. Why should Benue case be different if not persecution? “If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 states.

“If their focus was on Benue State they should have started from 1999 when Senator Akume was governor. But this is not the case. I want the whole world to know that all this is about persecution and a clear case of witch-hunting.

“With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe.

“The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state. I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution. “I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money. I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.”

Ortom, who explained that he is being persecuted for enacting Anti-Open Grazing Law and his recent defection from the ruling APC to PDP wondered why, as a citizen of the country, he cannot associate with any party he wants. He maintained that he had to decamp from the APC because the interest of the Benue people and his interest were no longer being protected.

source: https://www.benuepress.com/2018/08/start-security-vote-probe-from-presidency-gov-ortom-to-efcc/

Umbrella Organization of Muslims in the north, the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam, (JNI) yesterday, disclosed that the killings going on in Benue State and other parts of the Middle Belt was not Islamic Jihad.

JNI said the clarification had become necessary following reports that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had described the mayhem in his state as Jihad.

A statement by JNI made available to newsmen in Kaduna said “this is a reaction to a recent interview granted by Samuel Ortom, Executive Governor of Benue State to the effect that the ongoing herders-farmers clashes in his state is a continuation of the Jihad of our revered Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo”

The statement signed by Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, Secretary-General, of JNI, said: “Benue Governor got it very wrong, most likely because of his malicious intent to smear the revered personality of Shehu Danfodiyo who had said in a widely-quoted statement that: “Truth is an open wound, only justice can heal it.”

JNI continued that,” we therefore call on all, particularly the Benue State Government and its cohorts not to take for granted the leadership of Nigerian Muslims over these unfortunate crises in the name of herders-farmers clashes, particularly at this very critical time when the security challenges in the country are so many. More so, it is Ramadan period, a time we Muslims are enjoined to be cautious and calm in our affairs.”

Part of the statement said:”For the records, the governor is not alone in throwing these tantrums. Femi Fani Kayode, one-time Minister of Aviation during the reign of President Obasanjo has always said lots of unprintable things against Shehu Danfodiyo.

“This rejoinder is premised on the fact that Islam does not encourage its adherents to castigate other people of faith or fabricate lies against them but encourages that once the Ummah (Society) of Islam is frequently maligned, then it is incumbent on the society to defend itself, hence the need for this write-up.

“Still, one finds it difficult to understand the rationale behind the governor’s vituperations at this point in time. Or is it because Tashaku, his militant boy, has been arrested by the military authorities and the governor is already entertaining fear for thorough investigations?

“Well, to set the records straight against mischief makers, Danfodiyo’s Jihad was essentially against the unjust leadership of various Muslim states, starting with his own homeland, the Muslim Gobir Empire, not against non-Muslims. His Jihad gave hope to the people and got overwhelming acceptance from all. That was why some Empires submitted themselves to him even before any battle.

“The Jihad was also an intellectual as well as social movement, and in fact, Shehu had earlier called for reform, and it was the failure and recalcitrance of the then Muslim Rulers that made the masses to congregate around him for the Jihad to take place.

“For the information of the Benue State Governor and others, Shehu Danfodiyo himself had said “a Society can endure in disbelief but cannot endure under an unjust leader”. We therefore call on the citizenry to read the writings of the Sokoto Triumvirate (Shehu himself, his brother Malam Abdullahi and Shehu’s son Sultan Muhammad Bello). One would be amazed with their foresight, their fear of God, their sincerity and piety, and the prevailing intellectual development of their contemporary society which undoubtedly are the bane of the Nigerian nation at the moment.

“Further to that, we call on Muslims and the general public to disregard the information from the Benue Governor and/or Benue State Government as well as their respective consociates, as it is false without even a figment of truth. We use this opportunity to call on Muslims to, especially in this blessed month of Ramadan, intensify prayers for peace to return to the nation and for a hitch-free 2019 General Elections as politicians are busy trying to cause crises with their unguarded utterances.”

https://www.benuepress.com/2018/05/benue-killings-not-jihad-jni-replies-governor-ortom/