Ortom: An achiever of peace without bloodshed in Benue state

By Olikita Ekani

 

One of the hallmarks of Gov Samuel Ortom’s administration is the Protection of lives and property of Benue people” which is also the primary responsibility of any responsible government in Nigeria according to our constitution. Any government that can not guarantee this major role has no reason to remain in power. From Agatu through Enone, Otukpo, MINDA, Jemgbah, Jechira, Kwande to Zaki Biam in Sankera, one can now sleep with his/her two eyes closed as Ortom has restored a long lasting peace to all the areas.

One of the bold steps Gov Ortom took towards recording this milestone is the full implementation of one of the most acceptable laws in Nigeria, the #BenueOpenGrazingProhibitionAndRanchesEstablishmentLaw, an act that has been embraced by most governors in Nigeria, being enacted and implemented in their various states. Before the enactment of the law, killings and destructions by Fulani herdsmen were all over the state. Despite all the threats in order to discourage the state from the full implementation of the law, Gov Ortom never wavered but never resorted to violence. He stood on his ground and this law has brought relative peace to the state.

The second route the governor followed in achieving peace in the state today is the total elimination of political thuggery in Benue politics. From Abia to Zamfara, it is on record that Ortom remains as the only governor without political thugs around him because he believes that no one can acquire power by force except given to him from above. Yet, he is the most respected. His colleagues respect him, Nigerians respect him, Africans respect him, leaders from Western and other countries also respect him. Since coming on board in 2015 as the number one citizen of the state, Ortom has transformed many young boys and girls who were into political thuggery to good and well to do entrepreneurs with viable ventures through empowerment. At every function or gathering, the governor is always warning his aides against promoting thuggery or forming any association with them as they will later become threats to peace in the state.

Another monster threatening the peace of towns and villages in the state which the governor is working assiduously round the clock to eliminate is the issue of cultism and other forms of criminality. In trying to achieve this, the governor in collaboration with the State House of Assembly is planning to review the Anti Cultism law of the state so as to proffer stiffer penalty against any culprit. Although it is gradually reducing, cultism remains the major threat to peace in the state as recently seen in street-to-street killings by members of rival cult groups in many towns and villages in the state, the raping and killing of Miss Joy Onoh Ogochukwu around Federal Housing North Bank, Makurdi. Until her death, Miss Joy was a fresh graduate of the Benue State University awaiting mobilisation by NYSC. She was into supply of goods, was lured by a prospective customer, raped and killed. Two of the culprits have been apprehended by the police.

As of today, Benue state remains the most peaceful state in the whole of the north and one of the few peaceful States in Nigeria. This unprecedented feat without bloodshed can only be achieved by the Defender of the Benue Valley, the awards winning governor, a man who stopped external aggressors from conquering Benue State and by implication, the entire Middle Belt and subjugation of our people, the most respected governor in Nigeria by the International community and the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Adorogo Ortom.

Olikita Ekani, a proponent of good governance, writes from Makurdi