Immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has advised his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia to sheath his sword and work with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume to attract more dividends of democracy to the state.
Ortom, who gave the advice during the celebration of his 63rd birthday celebration, organized by his former appointees, also apologised to all Nigerians and Benue people whom in the course of his eight years as the governor may have stepped on their toes, saying whoever has offended him in any way has also been forgiven.
He said, “this is the first time the position of SGF is coming to the North Central and Benue in particular and there is every need for collaborative efforts between the governor, SGF, and all the past and present leaders of the State to attract more development and fight against invasion of the Benue valley”
This is even as Akume described his journey with Ortom as highly historical and eventful in moulding lives and changing events. It is a journey that has spanned decades with leadership and followership burden.
Represented by Prof. John Tsua, the SGF said, “We have had good times, turbulence times and time of reconciliation, friendship and collaboration to secure our people and land, and on this day of your birthday, I wish you good health of body and mind with a renewed zee to keep contributing to the consolidation of our democracy, growth of our nation and state”
He said, “in the history of Benue State, I have helped a lot of people by the grace of God. Some have been good and others terrible.
Because of people like Ortom who has recognized the burden of mentorship and leadership and is ready to embrace positive change, I will not stop helping and elevating people”
In a welcome address, the chairman of the central planning committee, David Olofu said his eight years of working with Ortom as the state commissioner for finance, Ortom demonstrated that leadership is not all about your comfort but the ability to impact positively on the lives the people you represent, even as he described Ortom as a servant leader.
Also, the president, Middle Belt Forum Dr. Pogu Bitrus who described Ortom as a visionary and courageous leader who in the course of governance put his job and life online to resist the marginalisation and OCCUPATION of the Benue Valley by the marauding herdsmen.
Pogu who was the chairman of the occasion said, “we are celebrating Orton today for being the voice of the voiceless which has made us to cue behind him.”
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