Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has dismissed as “mischievous” allegations linking his government to recent deaths in Nasarawa State during an air raid.
The Governor stated that neither he nor his administration were involved in the regrettable incident.
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He insisted that he did not instruct anyone to carry out such an act, and that he lacked the authority to authorize an air raid that resulted in the fatalities.
Governor Ortom addressed during a Thanksgiving Mass for the official opening of a Parish House built by him at Holy Cross Parish, Ogbolokuta, Ulayi in Ado Local Government Area on Sunday, January 29th, 2023.
He indicated that, contrary to popular belief, it could have been the product of intelligence obtained by the military high command.
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The Governor, who asked why he was being linked to the incident, said it was sheer deception to try to drag him into something he had no knowledge of.
Speaking on the hostilities between the people of Ezza community of Ado local government and their neighbouring Ebonyi State, the Governor said he was working in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi to end the incessant conflict between the two brothers.
He said that the peace meeting between the two state governments will be held in the area as a sign of commitment to ending the issues and allowing people to return home.
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Governor Ortom, the first governor of the state to visit the Ezza village since the state’s inception in 1976, told them that boundaries were intended for administrative convenience rather than to divide people.
According to him, the Ezza people, despite speaking Igbo, were genuine Benue State indigenes who needed to be protected by the government.
He also assured them that there was an ongoing process for the amendment of the chieftaincy law of the state, saying, “Ezza community must also be given the opportunity to lead their people” through the appointment of traditional rulers.
He asked Hon James Oche, Chairman of Ado Local Government Council, to ensure that the matter is presented before the public hearing for the review of the chieftaincy law.
Governor Ortom urged the people who deserted their homes as a result of the hostilities to return to their places and be vigilant in reporting any security breach, assuring that able bodied young men from Ezza community will be drafted into the next batch of the State Community Volunteer Guards to help curb insecurity.
He particularly commended the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church Ogbolokuta, Rev. Fr Solomon Ujah and the Diocese of Otukpo for their resilience in helping to keep the Ezza community despite the several security challenges in the area.
Earlier in a homily, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi encouraged the faithful to imbibe doing works of charity to fellow human beings, stating that doing so was to God Himself on which account entry into heaven will be determined.
Bishop Apochi whose message was focused on the beatitudes as taken from the gospel of Matthew 5:1-12 stated that the beatitudes offer the comfort to rise from our sense of inhumanity, injustice, oppression of the poor, bad leadership as well as bad followership, admonishing that Christians should use the beatitudes to rise against personal failures and sinfulness.
In his welcome remarks, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church Ogbolokuta, Rev. Fr. Solomon Alexander Ujah expressed profound appreciation to Governor Ortom for building a Parish House for the Church and prayed to God to reward his sacrifice.
He also appealed to the Governor to further look into the challenges of the Ezza community, which he pointed out was ravaged by insecurity, lack of access road, as well as non-existence of a health facility to serve the community.
The Vicar General, Administration of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Very Rev. Fr. Kenneth Odeh presented the Diocesan Centenary Award to Governor Ortom in recognition to his sustained support for the growth of the Church.
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