Ortom seeks FG’s aid on agric, insecurity, unemployment

BENUE State Governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom has said his administration would need Federal Government assistance to frontally tackle the issue of clashes between nomadic cattle rearers and farmers in the state.

He also told the president-elect that the Senate Minority Whip, Senator George Akume deserves to be elected as senate president based on his wealth of experience and enviable contributions to the growth of democracy in the country.

Ortom, who spoke during a courtesy visit on the president-elect in Abuja pointed out that no nation can develop in a crisis and insecurity situation, and declared that his administration was prepared to partner with the new government at the federal level to end the spate of insecurity across the country.

“As we all know, no country or state can develop without security. When we live in peace, we can then put in place strategic plans to boost our economic development. We are all too familiar with the incessant clashes between pastoralists and farmers in many parts of the country.

“From Benue to Plateau, Taraba to Zamfara, Katsina and name it, several communities have been sacked by these people whose business has been to spill innocent blood. For us in Benue state, our people who are mostly farmers can not even afford to go to their farms any longer for the fear of these people. Our new government in Benue will be happy to partner with the federal government to bring this menace to an end as soon as possible,” he stated.

He told Buhari that his victory was welcome by Nigerians because they believe he has the capacity to take the country out of its current predicament.

His words: “Nigerians are excited with the victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the president of our beloved nation. In Benue state, we are particularly happy that we share a long history of affinity with you. This starts right from his service in the Nigerian Army as a Brigade Commander in the state. You are therefore not new to us and we are not new to you.

In a related development Ortom, through his Media Adviser, Tahav Agerzua sought the intervention of the Federal Government to boost investment in the area of agriculture, curb insecurity and create jobs and wealth for the teeming unemployed youths of the state.

He said the state required federal might to sort out the issues even as he appealed for the dredging of River Benue and also drew attention to the plight of ex-service men who he said have been neglected.

Ortom drew the attention of the president-elect to the potentials of River Benue. “The Inland Waterways is another source to job creation and wealth generation. It is with this in mind that I see prospects in River Benue, which is ripe for dredging.