Why NASS needs to create North Central Development Commission – Gov. Ortom

By Pila Daniel AP

Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged the 9th National Assembly to create North Central Development Commission that will enhance rebuilding ravaged communities in the North central geopolitical Axis of the Country.

He spoke at the command performance in honour of the outgoing members of the 8th and incoming 9th Benue State house of Assembly at the new banquet Hall of Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

The Governor said the level of damage done to communities within the region was similar if not more than the North East and therefore required urgent intervention and only the establishment of a Commission would bring the needed succour to those areas.

We are not second class citizens and “must be treated with respect as part and parcel of a federating unit of this country”, Ortom stressed.

He said it will only be fair to establish such a Commission for the north central having done same to other regions that have been ravaged by insurgents and other disasters.

The Governor maintained that he was not against local government autonomy but will not condone any sweeping statement targeted at portraying Governors especially himself as a thief from the Nigeria’s Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

While thanking members of the outgoing 8th Assembly for their service to the state and collaboration which resulted in enactment of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law, the governor promised to consider some of them as he makes new appointments even as he enjoined the incoming 9th assembly to put the interest of the state first on their agenda.

In their goodwill messages, honourable Paul Biam, Ukum state constituency, who spoke for the outgoing members of the 8th assembly and Professor Dennis Ityavyar, for the immediate past state executive council, thanked the Governor for a harmonious working relationship and urged him to extend same to the new Assembly and cabinet to be constituted.

Also speaking, members elect, Honourables Tertsea Gbishe and Agnes Uloko, Kwande East and Ado state constituencies respectively thanked the Governor and government of Benue state for doing them such an honour and appealed to the Governor to give them the enabling environment so as to work harmoniously with the executive and move the state forward.

Guests were thrilled to all kinds of cultural dances from the Benue State Arts council and other Benue Artists.