Gov. Ortom reacts to alleged plan to dissolve Local Government executive members

By Jimin Geoffrey

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has allayed fears that he plans to dissolve the executive members of local governments in the state.

He made the clarification at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi during a courtesy call on him by the people of Shitile both from Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

Governor Ortom stated that the local government law of the state does not permit dissolution of an elected council for the constitution of a caretaker committee.

He stated that as a law abiding leader, he would not go against the law and instead uphold due process.

The Governor noted that if a council chairman or any of the council members breaches the law establishing the local government system, such an official would be suspended on recommendation and ratification by the State Assembly.

He urged Benue people to disregard speculations that council chairmen and their executive members would be dissolved to pave way for caretaker committees, stressing that the rumour was baseless and misleading.

Governor Ortom urged the people of Shitile to embrace peace for development to thrive in the area, noting that arrangements were in top gear to demarcate the boundary between Benue and Taraba to minimize crisis between border communities of the two states.

In separate remarks, District Head of Mbacher, Chief Luka Atovigba and former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. David Mzenda Iho, appealed for the construction of Gbishe – Abaji – Amafu road in the area and also called for the review of the state’s amnesty programme to accommodate some youths from the area who might be afraid to willingly surrender to security agencies.

While appreciating the Governor for appointing their son, Mr. Gbor Igyo as the Provost of College of Education Katsina-Ala, the Shitile leaders also appealed for the upgrade of the institution to federal status.