Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Zaki Christopher Yatsav, a native of Uvir in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, has returned to former Governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, to express gratitude for the free medical treatment he received after suffering a snakebite.
Yatsav, who met Ortom during the former governor’s visit to his kinsmen in Gbajimba, reportedly became emotional as he recounted how the intervention helped save his life.
According to him, without the support he received for the treatment, he might not have survived the snakebite incident.
Yatsav said he was compelled to seek out Ortom after learning that the former governor was in Gbajimba, describing the encounter as an opportunity to personally appreciate him for the assistance.
The development presents Ortom’s reported long-standing intervention in providing anti-snake venom to snakebite victims, an initiative which, Chief Ortom had sustained many years before becoming the governor of Benue State.
The intervention was also sustained during his administration, particularly for residents of rural communities where snakebite incidents are a recurring concern and access to timely treatment can be difficult.
For Yatsav, the encounter was less about politics and more about gratitude to someone he believes played a significant role in preserving his life.
With emotion, he thanked the former governor, saying, “Thank you, Chief Ortom. Without your help, I may not be here today.”
The encounter has since drawn commendation from those who view such interventions as an important part of Ortom’s legacy of humanitarian support, particularly to vulnerable members of rural communities.