By Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi
Former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, PhD on Wednesday dazzled the people of Benue as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu visited the state following the deadly Fulani attacks on the people of Yelewata area of Guma local government.
Recall that immediately after the killings of about three hundred people by armed bandits in Yelewata over the last weekend, the people of the State started praising Chief Samuel Ortom for his stand against the insurgents while he was governor between 2015 and 2023.
Thousands of Benue people who spoke on various Social Media painfully recalled how Ortom was on the neck of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure that the lands of Benue people were not occupied by Fulani herders.
They also praised the former governor for even sacrificing his Senatorial ambition just because he was defending the people of the State from their attackers, the Fulani herders.
The venue of the Town Hall Meeting which was organized by the Benue State government charged and changed with ovations and encomium when Chief Samuel Ortom arrived with the official delegation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Showing their love towards the former governor, almost eighty percent of attendees at the Town Hall meeting stood up to give a heroic welcome to Chief Samuel Ortom immediately he entered the New Banquet Hall at the Government House in Makurdi.
Many were even agitating that the former governor should be allowed to speak the minds of the people of Benue State to President Bola Tinubu just like he used to do during the Buhari-led administration. He however didn’t address the meeting as only President Bola Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia and Tor Tiv James Ayatse were the only persons billed to speak at the event.
Thousands of Benue people were still chanting “Ortom, Adorogo, Nyakyume, Defender of Benue Valley” even after the meeting. Several of them made their ways to the airport to cheer him (Ortom) up while he joined other dignatories that escorted the president to the airport as he was returning back to Abuja that same day.
Yesterday, Thursday was another day which Benue people proved that the love they have for Chief Ortom is unequalled as the former governor took time to visit Yelewata, the affected area in Guma local government.
Chief Ortom was accompanied by Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkigir among several prominent stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party and Benue state as a whole.
There, Chief Ortom donated bags of rice in hundreds as well as a reasonable amount of money to reduce the effect of the attacks. He identified with the victims and the people of Guma which is his home town, and promised to always send helping hands to them from time to time.
Going back to Makurdi where he immediately departed for Abuja for a national assignment, Chief Ortom was cheered up by the people of Guma local government who said that he is a worthy son who has never forsaken them in their trying times..