Tag: Samuel Ortom

‘Fulanisation’ of Nigeria theory: “Ortom not the propounder, but proponent” – Benue Tiv group

Aminu Imam

A group in Benue State under the aegis of MINDA (Masev, Ihyarev, Nongov Development Association), Strategic Contact Group (MSCG), has lamented that the state governor Samuel Ortom was being villified for being the propounder of the theory of the Fulani “revival of the1804 Sokoto Jihad” as well as the “Islamisation and Fulanisation” of Nigeria. The group however argued that the State governor, Samuel Ortom, did not propound the theories, but rather, he has always been an advocate of actions to be taken to address the farmers/herders conflict. MSCG, a self-acclaimed…

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Benue: Gov Ortom institutes N60 billion suit against Akume for libel

Aminu Imam

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom yesterday instituted a N60 billion suit against Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at the Makurdi High Court. In the suit, filed by Okon N. Efut, (SAN) and four other lawyers, Gov. Ortom is seeking N50 billion as general damages for libel and N10 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages. The writ of summons was backed by a 17-paragraph statement of claim. In the statement of claim, Governor Ortom is seeking a declaration that the text of Senator Akume’s press conference…

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Insecurity: Akume, APC leaders demand state of emergency in Benue

Aminu Imam

Minister for Special Duties, George Akume and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Benue have urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the State. Akume, who spoke on behalf of APC leaders in the State at a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday, said that the call was hinged on the fact that Governor Samuel Ortom had lost control of the security situation in the State. The party leaders condemned what it described as the governor’s “penchant for verbally attacking” the President, Muhammadu…

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“You deliberately destroyed Nigeria” – Ortom attacks Buhari again

Aminu Imam

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has doubled down on his criticisms against the President, Muhammadu Buhari. Ortom, in a statement on Thursday afternoon, lampooned the President again stating that he (Buhari) has deliberately destroyed Nigeria. He also called on the Presidency to address the issues stated in his earlier statement criticising their performance since taking power in 2015. The statement partly reads: “The Governor spoke the minds of most Nigerians on specific areas of failure of the Presidency and its complicity in the heinous crimes committed against citizens by armed…

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APC chieftain knocks Ortom over caustic utterances against Buhari

Aminu Imam

…Accuses gov. of converting State properties to private business A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Coordinator, Concerned Progressive Stakeholders (CPS), Garus Gololo has condemned Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom for utterances described as reckless and unguarded against the person of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is also as Gololo alleged that the governor has been converting State properties to personal use, while asserting that Ortom is a “serial failure” in governance. The party chieftain, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, was apparently reacting…

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Presidency accuses Ortom inciting violence against Fulani

Aminu Imam

The President Muhammadu Buhari government has accused Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom of inciting violence against people of Fulani ethnic group across the country. Ortom, whose State has been under series of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, is a vocal critic of President Buhari, who he accuses of protecting the interest of the Fulani to the detriment of those of other Nigerians. The governor, while appearing on a television programme yesterday, further accused the president of pursuing Fulanisation agenda with his latest attempt to impose grazing reserves for herders in…

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“You gave Katsina N6.5bn for ranching, Benue wants N100bn” – Ortom to Buhari

Aminu Imam

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has said it was the height of deceit and hypocrisy for the Federal Government to approve N6.25 billion for ranching in Katsina State and released N5 billion, while same government is creating cattle routes and encouraging open grazing in other States of the federation. Governor Ortom, who spoke at Makurdi airport, was reacting to the revelation by Gov. Bello Masari, at the commissioning of the Zobe Water Project in Dutsima, Katsina State. Masari had said: “Mr. President has graciously approved N6.25 billion for ranch development…

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‘We’ll give lands to Fulani herdsmen’ – Ortom

Aminu Imam

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has said lands are available for Fulani herdsmen who want to ranch their cattle in the State. Ortom disclosed this on the 72nd birthday of a former Nigeria Ambassador to Mexico, Iyorwuese Hagher. The Commissioner for Education, Dennis Ityayvar, represented him at the event. According to him, Benue people are historical friends of the Fulani. Ityayvar said, “His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom has explained again and again that we, Benue people, are not against Fulani; we’re still friends. “Any Fulani person who wants to establish…

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Just In: Gunmen kill Ortom’s aide in Plateau

Aminu Imam

Gunmen have killed a Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Security, AIG Christopher Dega (rtd). It was gathered that the governor’s aide was killed in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The retired police officer was said to have been killed on Tuesday when he was reportedly shot several times in the chest. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, confirmed the death of the retired AIG. Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, Ubah Ogaba, who confirmed his killing in a statement in…

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‘El-Rufa’i a sycophant, religious bigot misleading Buhari’ — Ortom

Aminu Imam

Governor Samuel Ortom, of Benue State, has fingered his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir el-Rufa’i as one of the real enemies of Nigeria and the very few persons misleading President Muhammadu Buhari. He maintained that the Kaduna State governor was a sycophant, ethnic champion and religious bigot who hated anyone who did not share the same faith with him. The Benue state Governor, who in a statement issued at the weekend in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase, was reacting to a statement credited to the Kaduna state…

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