Gov. Samuel Ortom: The glory of courage (Opinion)

By Dennis Ityavyar

“I want to congratulate the people of Benue state for having such a wonderful man like Samuel Ortom” —DR. Valentine Akpati, International Human Rights Commission, Geneva, Switzerland

To His Excellency, Gov. Samuel Ioraernyi Ortom Adorogo, the year 2019 is ending on a positive note. He has a harvest of very prestigious awards. Both are coming from quarters endowed with integrity and honor. Any President or Governor will be happy when his achievements are identified and genuinely singled out as a model to others.
African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN), a Private Publishing House and Publishers of Tribune Newspaper, founded 70 years ago by the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo conferred on Governor Ortom the Platinum Anniversary Award of the Most Courageous Statesman and Defender of Humanity. The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) based in Geneva, Switzerland this week conferred on Dr. Ortom, The Order of Pride of Africa and Nelson Mandela Medal for Long Walk to Freedom. The two recent awards presented to him in separate ceremonies have revealed the essential quality of this wonderful man.
Dr. Tokumbo Awolowo Dosumo, the Chairman of ANN in conferring the Platinum award was categorical on their choice. She said the organization had chosen to recognize Dr. Samuel Ortom on its 70th Anniversary for exhibiting uncommon courage in governance and protection of humanity. Ortom demonstrated great leadership qualities and sense of responsibility in the protection of lives and property. When marauding herdsmen attacked, killed and maimed thousands of people in 20 of the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State, Gov. Ortom provided protection irrespective of class, religion and ethnicity. He was upstanding to protect people when some of the political leaders ran for their own safety.
He showed uncommon courage to push on with efforts to protect the people when even policemen assigned to intervene in the crisis became victims.

He courageously conducted mass burials of over 70 of his compatriots fallen by herdsmen attacks on January 1, 2018. He did this as the killer herdsmen boasted publicly that more blood would flow. It was uncommon courage when the Governor provided basic supplies and health services for about 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in eight camps located in Guma and Logo LGAs. Through his uncommon courage he provided emergency schools for over 20,000 displaced children of school age in the camps saying that the future of the children must not be stolen. It was courage when he pushed on even as he repeatedly received cold shoulders from some political leaders at the Federal level.
In spite of all the challenges he faced from herdsmen, bandits, Boko Haram and ISIS, Gov. Ortom created time to search for solutions through agencies of the Federal government, United Nations, European Union, ECOWAS, Religious leaders and other key stakeholders. As the key politicians of his party played politics with the carnage, Ortom had the uncommon courage to leave APC the party that had elected him and moved to PDP to seek for candidacy in the last minute, even as general elections were close.

Dr. Hussein Bou-Said, President of the International Human Rights Commission in conferring the award on Ortom had this to say:
“This (Award) is for his selfless contribution to the peace and security of Benue and Nigeria. Peace is very very important. Without peace, there will be no progress and development…Benue is one state implementing human rights in all its aspects”.

The two organizations where Governor Ortom has bagged the two awards are very credible. Their credibility has added value to the awards. When these organizations speak, the world listens. ANN loudly announced that Dr. Ortom is a governor with uncommon courage to protect humanity. The world knows they are telling the truth and are sending a message across to Nigeria.

IHRC publicly declared that Ortom is a Pride of Africa. It also went on to associate Ortom with Mandela. These are big statements that cannot and should not be ignored. Last time it was God who told him 22years ahead that he would be governor in 2015. This time around, God is using others to tell us a poetic story. The full meaning will become manifested in the days ahead. These organizations must be hailed for maintaining their noble roles of exposing the truth. Truth is like a torchlight that guides our path in the darkness.

Gov. Ortom is a man of peace. He uses peaceful means to look for solutions. That’s how he found a solution to the incessant farmers and herdsmen conflicts in the state. He reasoned that the Nigerian population has grown to about 200 million people. Many towns and cities, schools and hospitals have emerged to put pressure on Nigeria’s landmass. Farming and open grazing cannot be possible without conflicts. It was possible in the 1960s when Nigeria’s population was only 40 million with only a few towns, schools and hospitals.

The only solution to the farmers and herders conflicts will be the establishment of ranches. He then introduced an Executive bill on Ranching and sent to the State House of Assembly. It was from then that Prohibition of Open Grazing and Establishment of Ranches law was signed in May 2017. After six months of grace, the law came into effect on November 1, 2017. The law prohibits open grazing and introduces ranching of cattle and other animals. Governor Ortom introduced this as a recipe for peace for both farmers and herdsmen.
Initially there was opposition from herders but Ortom insisted that ranching was a best practice in animal husbandry globally. He explained that even in the United States, there was violence associated with Cowboys who were involved in open grazing. With careful awareness creation and sensitization, opponents of ranching in Benue and in Nigeria have seen the light. Herders and farmers in Benue are no more on war path. Dr. Ortom has succeeded in bringing about an end to the historical conflict between herders and farmers.

The law prohibiting Open Grazing has ushered in peace and enhanced the rights of citizens. Nigerians have now agreed that ranching is the best solution to herders and farmers conflict. The Federal Government of Nigeria has now established the National Livestock Transformation Plan which will support Ranching program nationwide.
To be sure, achievement in governance goes beyond construction of roads and bridges. It goes beyond construction of schools and hospitals and payment of salaries. Governor Ortom has combined both tangible and intangible r in governance. He has brought powerful and innovative ideas to the table. For instance, the idea of ranching cattle and prohibiting open grazing has improved our quality of life. It has saved lives and has added value to our existence as a country.

To governor Ortom and his team, it has been a long night. But daylight has broken forth. Nigerians can now clearly see the essential and real Gov. Ortom. Generation after generation of Nigerians will remember him as one who brought peace to Nigeria when herdsmen and farmers crisis brought Nigeria to its knees.

Let’s all stand up and congratulate His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ioraernyi Ortom Adorogo, the man with uncommon courage, Lover of humanity, Human Rights Advocate, Ranch establishment Crusader and holder of the Nelson Mandela medal on long walk to freedom. The leader of people, defender of the Benue valley and the man Africa is proud to have. Congratulations Boss!

*Dennis Ityavyar is Professor of Sociology and Hon. Commissioner of Education in Benue state.