Ortom pledges zero tolerance for corruption

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial flag bearer in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has promised that if he becomes governor of the state his administration will create a special office on accountability to curb corruption.

   Ortom, who stated this at a campaign rally held at the Ibrahim Babangida Square in Makurdi added that the office would be under the governor’s supervision.

   The former Minister of State Industry, Trade and Investment who said he has a five-point agenda which include, good governance, security, industrialisation, science technology, education and health services, as well as care for people with disabilities, further added that for him to deliver good governance, he will first develop governance index in line with the progressive manifesto of the APC.

   “We will create an enabling environment for participatory governance. We would ensure revenue security by upgrading the Benue Internal Revenue Service to a revenue commission bearing in mind that these are tough times and with the collapse of oil prices, Benue is not prepared to wait for handouts,” he stressed.

   He said his administration will also reorganise the pension office in the state to implement participatory pension scheme and address the challenges of pensioners at both state and local council levels.

   While promising to run all inclusive administration encompassing different categories of people in the state, Ortom further congratulated Governor Suswam for providing an enabling opportunity for him to leave the PDP and join the APC, noting that the day he left the PDP, he was given the governorship ticket by APC.

   “My name as candidate of the APC is being displayed here at INEC office. So, I remain the party’ candidate. There is no case against me in any court.”