Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, was yesterday absent at the reception in honour of the minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utseve, after his swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
However, secretary to government of the federation (SGF), Sen George Akume; immediate past governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom; Ochi’doma, HRM, Agaba-Idu; Dr Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, and the Tor Tiv, HRM, Orchivirigh Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, represented by the Ter Gwer, Chief Dominic Akpe, graced the occasion.
Also present were the Senator representing Benue North West, Sen Titus Zam, and members of the National Assembly from the state.
Also, second republic Senator, Chief Jacob Tilley Gyado; Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Aonodona Dajoh, represented by his wife, Cynthia; the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Austin Agada, among other creme de la creme from the state attended the reception.
In his remarks, Sen Akume who was represented by his wife and the member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, Hon Regina, disclosed that her husband, who is a compassionate man, has forgiven former Governor Ortom despite all that happened in the past eight years.
Akume had supported Ortom to emerge Benue State governor in 2015 but they parted ways in 2018 with the latter dumping the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and winning his second term which ended on May 29.
The SGF’s wife acknowledged the presence of the former governor at the event, which she said signified reconciliation and remarked on the absence of the incumbent state chief executive.
She prayed to God to give Utseve the wisdom, knowledge and understanding in his office so that he will never forget Benue, and project as well as protect the interest of all sections of the state.
“I am speaking here, on behalf of my dear husband, the secretary to the government of the federation, Sen Dr George Akume, the man who has so much love for Benue people.
“Dynamic young man who is so compassionate, forgiving and as you can see, about a while ago, the former governor was here but you did know what happened the last eight years back but he has forgiven him.
“Our own governor is not here; no representative but that’s what we have got. So, we said thank you to God for that too. Great party men came from all over. I salute your courage. I thank you for standing by His Excellency, my husband.”
In his remarks, Ortom congratulated the minister who served in his administration as commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, saying he was a round peg in a round hole.
“I am here to congratulate the honourable minister, Prof Utsev, on his appointment and swearing-in today. We give glory to God for this elevation and promotion of our dear brother.
“The Bible says ‘rejoice with them that rejoice’. So, we are here today to rejoice with him and to pray God Almighty to grant him more wisdom and appreciate God for the appointment, and appreciate our leader, Sen George Akume, for facilitating this elevation and promoting him to where he is. We are grateful and we pray to God to grant him more wisdom.
“He (Utsev) has prepared himself academically. He is fit and I pray God to grant all he has done because he is the right peg in the hole, and I believe at the end he will make all of us proud,” Ortom said.
On his part, the minister assured Nigerians that he would live up to his mandate to make sure there is abundant water in Nigeria.
“I appreciate the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for finding me worthy to serve in his cabinet. I appreciate in a special way my father, a mentor who always finds me worthy of several assignments.
“I plead with you to continue to support him to build Benue, to build Nigeria. I ask for your prayers on him and his office.
“His Excellency, the President has brought us on board and I am in the ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and my work is to try to see that water is abundant in Nigeria because water is life and to make sure that we sanitise our country for good hygiene. So, you should continue to pray for me for God to give me the grace and the energy to pilot the affairs of the ministry,” Utsev said.
